April 2020 by The Walleye Magazine

FILM FREE ARTS Vol. 11 No. 4 MUSIC APRIL FOOD 2020 CULTURE thewalleye.ca

Think Globally, Act Locally The Green Issue

THE PROCESS IS THE ART 34

GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK 46

SMALL TOWN ARTILLERY 74

OPENMIND INTERIORS 82

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Contents

walleye the

FEATURES

■ 9 CoverStory: Green Issue ■ 10 StandUp4CleanUp ■ 11 A Little Bit of Effort

Thunder Bay’s arts & culture alternative

Editor-in-chief Darren McChristie Editor Adrian Lysenko adrian@thewalleye.ca Assistant Editor Rebekah Skochinski Senior Editor Tiffany Jarva Copy Editors Amy Jones, Bonnie Schiedel

FOOD

Marketing & Sales Specialist Kaitlin Trevisan kaitlin@thewalleye.ca

■ 20 THE GRINNING BELLY ■ 21 DRINK OF THE MONTH ■ 22 BREW IT YOURSELF ■ 25 SUPERIOR SIP

Alaina Linklater alaina@thewalleye.ca Photographers Patrick Chondon, Kevin Dempsey, Damien Gilbert, Chad Kirvan, Dave Koski, Kay Lee, Shannon Lepere, Marty Mascarin, Darren McChristie, Sarah McPherson, Laura Paxton, Keegan Richard

FILM&THEATRE

Art Directors Steve Coghill, R.G.D., Dave Koski, R.G.D. production@thewalleye.ca

Reproduction of any article, photograph or artwork without written permission is strictly forbidden. Views expressed herein are those of the author exclusively.

GALLERY’S COLLECTION ■ 38 Art as Therapy ■ 40 The Drive

OUTDOOR

■ 42 April Sublime CITYSCENE

■ 44 Every Family is Different ■ 46 Green is the New Black ■ 48 CANNABIS CORNER ■ 49 COVID-19: Here is a list

Superior Outdoors Inc. 314 Bay Street Thunder Bay, ON P7B 1S1

PLEASURABLE THING WE DO IN THE DARK. A COLUMN ABOUT MOVIES ■ 30 CONFESSIONS OF A DRAG DEALER ■ 32 Screwball Comedy

■ 34 The Process is the Art ■ 36 FROM THUNDER BAY ART

Copyright © 2020 by Superior Outdoors Inc. Editorial and Advertising: Submissions must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Superior Outdoors cannot be held responsible for unsolicited material.

■ 26 Grease ■ 28 THE SECOND MOST

THE ARTS

Ad Designers Dave Koski, Miranda van den Berg The Walleye is a free monthly publication distributed on racks throughout Thunder Bay and region.

for Making Big Changes ■ 12 Our Shared Responsibility ■ 13 Going Green Eco-Strategy ■ 14 EarthCare ■ 15 Planting Seeds of Inspiration ■ 16 The Refill Co. is Filling a Gap ■ 17 Bagging Up Change ■ 18 BY THE NUMBERS

of what's still open in Thunder Bay

■ 52 STUFF WE LIKE ■ 53 Transfiguring History ■ 54 24/8 Hour SkiLay ■ 56 The Suspicions of Mary J ■ 59 EYE TO EYE ■ 60 WALL SPACE ■ 62 THIS IS THUNDER BAY ■ 64 Breaking the Ice ■ 65 COVID-19 Community

Response Funding ■ 66 GO LOCAL THUNDER BAY COUNTRY MARKET ■ 68 Tree City ■ 70 Welcome to Thunder Bay

MUSIC

■ 72 Outsiders Concert ■ 73 Dancing Between Chaos ■ 74 ■ 75 ■ 76 ■ 77 ■ 78 ■ 79

and Calm Small Town Artillery TBSO SPOTLIGHT BURNING TO THE SKY The Dog Lake Sessions Enter Sandman Riot of a Lifetime

■ 80 OFF THE WALL REVIEWS ARCHITECTURE

■ 82 Open-Mind Interiors HEALTH

■ 84 What is a Pap Test? ■ 85 LU RADIO'S

MONTHLY TOP 20 THE WALL

■ 86 Making the Best of a

Bad Situation

GREEN

■ 87 Spring Up to Clean Up ■ 88 HOROSCOPES ■ 89 THE BEAT ■ 90 THE EYE

Judith Monteith-Farrell MPP Thunder Bay—Atikokan

Telephone (807) 344-3366 Fax (807) 623-5122 E-mail: info@thewalleye.ca

TheWalleye.ca

Community Off ice: 409 George St. Thunder Bay ON P7E 5Y9 Tel : (807) 622-1920 Toll Free : 1-833-673-4129 jmonteith-farrell-co@ndp.on.ca | judithmpp.ca

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From Our Instagram feed

Ripples in a Pond

n many ways, Thunder Bay is a microcosm. The problems we have in our community can be found elsewhere in the country and even around the world. This is especially true of the environmental issues facing our city, whether it’s climate change, air and water pollution, logging, or mining. But just like ripples in a pond, what we do in our own community can serve as an example to the rest of the country as well as the world. This is especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic. Every April we present our annual green issue to commemorate Earth Day, and this year we’re all about thinking globally and acting locally. From an individual whose community-led clean-up group has turned into a grassroots organization to a family who is trying to eliminate the use of plastic from their daily lives, we profile individuals who we think embody this philosophy. We also look at businesses and organizations that are making a difference. This includes The Refill Co., a new business that sells bulk refill and eco-friendly products; the Thunder Bay Country Market, which has eliminated the single-use plastic by its vendors; and Intercity Shopping Centre, which aims to reduce waste by the collection and repurposing of their spent cooking oil. Plus, Bonnie Schiedel sees how Thunder Bay stacks up

The Walleye

when it comes to resource use, waste diversion, and recycling in our infographic. As part of our theme, film columnist Michael Sobota shares his picks for activist movies, certified beer judge Josh Armstrong talks sustainable homebrewing tips, and the Northern Policy Institute looks at renewable energy projects in the city. Also Ayano Hodouchi Dempsey gets the scoop on Sail Superior’s new 50foot catamaran, we go Eye to Eye with Roots to Harvest’s executive director Erin Beagle, and Justin Allec pens a touching tribute to Camden Blues. In times of uncertainty it’s hard not to give way to fear and focus more on what’s best for the individual rather than the collective. And although change might not come easy, it has to start somewhere. What better place than in our community? Please note that event previews were current at the time the articles were written; however, we know there continue to be changes due to COVID-19. Please consult the organizers’ websites to confirm dates and times. As we adapt to these challenging times, I am confident our community will emerge as united and resilient and look forward to sharing those stories with our readers. -Adrian Lysenko

Featured Contributors Aelin Foster and Bree Bousquet Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Aelin adores the outdoors and being out in the wilderness. They started taking photos in high school as a way to capture the beauty they found out in the wild, as well as capturing happy moments with their friends. With support from their parents, Aelin followed their passion for photography in school. Bree started photography at a young age, stealing the camera or video camera from her parents to capture everything. With an author mom (P.D. Stewart) and adventurous dad, she has never had a delay in building her skills for what she loves to do. Bree is ready to continue working towards her career in the media arts. Having both completed internships at The Walleye, Aelin and Bree will be graduating from Interactive Media Development at Confederation College in June.

On the Cover Boulevard Lake Rusty Rocks Pixel shifting photography by Mat Noble

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TheTOPFive

Social Distancing Edition

1 Go Snowshoeing

Tiffany Jarva

Get into the trees and breathe in some clean, northern air! We are fortunate to have an abundance of green spaces where the snow is still plentiful. Strap on a pair of snowshoes and take a trek (for free!) through Centennial Park, making sure to stop and linger in the cedar groves and fill up on the soothing sounds of the rushing river. Wanting a bit more adventure? Head to Cascades Conservation Area, which offers 5.5 km of trails that will see you bumping elbows with fragrant poplar and birch trees, or Hazelwood Lake, which has an easy 2.5 km loop with beautiful views of the lake, another loop that winds through the forest, and a short 1.5 trail to an interesting dam. There’s a $2 parking fee at conservation areas or apply online for an Explore Card parking pass. lakeheadca.com/conservation

Stay Connected with 2 the Virtual Library

Experience and 3 Create Art

Our very own Thunder Bay Public Library has been a leader in bringing people and resources together by offering an inclusive and welcoming place to provide support, education, and entertainment. Now that we’re practicing social distancing, they are still offering ways to keep us connected. Access the CloudLibrary for eBooks and eAudiobooks, RB Digital for magazines, Transparent Language for learning a new language, Tumblebooks for kids’ stories and read aloud programs, and NAXOS Music to stream classical or world music direct to your computer. All you need is a library card! Don’t have one? Fret not, call 684-6814 or 624-4200 or email comments@tbpl.ca to be set up with an e-service card.

As the Thunder Bay Art Gallery reconfigures engaging, learning, and sharing, they’re using social media platforms for the good. Enjoy current exhibits, including the amazing work of Lakehead University students and the “Be Kind Project,” a small way of bringing art and artfulness to people of all ages and abilities. To encourage safety at home, the Be Kind Project shares art making ideas using easy to find materials, plus mood boosters, inspiration, and art in the community. Follow the art gallery on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for your regular art fix and share your creations using #bekindproject and #socialdistancingtbay to increase positivity during these extraordinary times.

tbpl.ca/onlinestuff

theag.ca

4 Play Board Games

Calculate (and 5 then reduce!) Your Ecological Footprint Wondering what you can do for Earth Day? April 22, 2020 marks the 50th year of the planet’s largest civic event. The theme is climate action so let’s take action and work together to calculate our ecological footprint. Our ecological footprint is the only metric that measures how much nature we have and how much nature we use, which provides valuable information for countries, leaders, and individuals. The motto is “measure what you treasure.” Sign up for the free app (donations welcome to pay it forward) to calculate your own ecological footprint and find out how many planets it will take to actually support your lifestyle and learn about solutions to help you tread more lightly on the earth.

insideupgames.com

footprintcalculator.org

Adrian Lysenko

Stay in and play games! Playing board games is a great way to do something together as a family and to keep your mind sharp and the mood light. Inside Up Games offers fun and exciting games like 7 Souls, where you become otherworldly creatures and compete for world dominance, Gorus Maximus, a trick-taking game of gladiatorial combat, Summit & Yeti, which can be played cooperatively or solo, and the ever-popular Vault Assault, the fast-paced “cops and robbers” dice game. These are just a few of the games offered and they are currently offering 19% off board games with the promo code “coplay19” on purchases of $100 or more for the month of April.

The Walleye Walleye

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CoverStory

Think Globally, Act Locally

EarthCare Thunder Bay

t’s hard not to panic in an emergency. And there’s a lot of panic in the world right now, from a wide-spreading virus to the ongoing realities of climate change. The important thing to remember is to remain calm, make the changes that you are able to, and help others whenever you can. To that end, in this, our annual Green Issue, we’re highlighting the many people, groups, and organizations in our close-knit community who are doing great things to make the city a better place to live—from ways to reduce our dependence on single use plastics, to reducing litter, along with a new company that is changing the way we can manage our everyday home and health care products. Small changes can have a big impact. May we all do better now that we know better.

The Walleye

CoverStory

GREEN PEOPLE Joshua Donald Hewitt

StandUp4CleanUp Joshua Donald Hewitt Reflects on Starting Grassroots Movement By Adrian Lysenko

ig things start small. In 2016, Joshua Donald Hewitt, who had recently overcome his battle with addiction and mental health issues, was looking for ways to involve himself in the Thunder Bay community and share the experience in a way that fostered a sense of purpose and belonging for others. “I found myself picking up garbage on my way home from a night shift at the Real Canadian Superstore. I started from Fort William Road and Cumberland Street all the way to the Salvation Army, where I had been staying,” Hewitt says. “I gathered up 12 bags of garbage with my bare hands, some bags I found in ditches.” After posting pictures of his work on social media, he started a group to engage other people in Thunder Bay. More than just organized clean-ups, Hewitt says

10 The Walleye

StandUp4CleanUp is about building connections in a community united in duty, love, and activism for a cleaner, greener, more welcoming, and beautiful Thunder Bay. “I went on to create my first successful event in partnership with the Salvation Army, EcoSuperior, Junk Away, and Tiny Canadian Living, where together, around 20 people rounded up over 20 bags of litter and debris,” he says. “The event was so impactful that it saw a more permanent relationship formed with the Salvation Army and EcoSuperior, who made us program partners of the city's Spring Up to Clean Up campaign a year later.” Since its inception in 2017, Hewitt says StandUp4CleanUp has grown significantly, fostering new relationships with local business owners around the city and instilling a sense

of pride in the community. “We now have better knowledge, training, and equipment we didn’t when we first started,” he says. “We know where high-risk areas are; we are better educated about the social dynamics of neighbourhoods and how to make public spaces safer through engagement in our events.” In 2018, StandUp4CleanUp was recognized with the Mayor’s Community Safety Award and in 2019, Hewitt says it grew to be more than just his story but an evolving story of hope in the community. “Joined by Tracey Mackinnon, Kimmy Compardo, and Amanda Walford, we have been able to deliver more programming across Thunder Bay including groundskeeping for some of the city's biggest events like the Bay & Algoma Busker Festival, Wake the Giant, and Westfort Street Fair,” he says. “We’ve grown from reaching only 300 people with a post on Facebook to 10,000 within three years.” Now in 2020, Hewitt says residents around Thunder Bay have become so inspired by StandUp4CleanUp’s message that they have not only taken to

cleaning up the streets and parks on their own, but have also installed their own waste receptacles. “Coordinating with Superior Points, we've helped raise awareness of areas of concern and have reduced workload upon their unit,” he says. “We’ve also noticed an increase in syringe receptacles in Downtown Fort William that have helped with the amount of needles found around the area. The same can be said with the [cigarette] butt receptacles in the Waterfront District BIA.” On April 22 at 4 pm, StandUp4CleanUp will be hosting its third annual March 4 Mother Earth outside the Hoito Restaurant and Bay Credit Union. “It was an idea I had to build partnerships in the environmentalist community, and to raise awareness about social and political changes for a better, more sustainable earth,” he says. “It is an organic event we host that allows people an avenue to stand in solidarity with fellow environmental and Indigenous activists.” For more information, visit standup4cleanup.weebly.com or find them on Facebook.

CoverStory

GREEN PEOPLE

Plastic free produce

Emily Kerton picking up trash

A Little Bit of Effort for Making Big Changes

Tips for Reducing Everyday Use of Plastics By Adrian Lysenko

ive years ago, Emily Kerton and Matt Roy set out on a self-imposed, one-month challenge to eliminate plastic from their lives. Kerton says trying to go plastic-free opened the couple’s eyes to where they could find alternatives, and how by putting a little bit of effort in their shopping, they could reduce the amount of plastic coming into their house in a big way. “Mostly, our habits changed during that month, and once a habit is formed it's very easy to keep it,” says Kerton. “Now when we walk into a grocery store, all we see is the plastic! At first it took effort to remember our containers/bags when we would go to a store; now, we don't leave home without them and it just has become second nature to grab them before heading out grocery shopping.” Kerton says their family is not

zero-waste by any stretch and notes that it's difficult to quantify the amount of plastic that comes into their house, but would guess that they've reduced their consumption by at least 50% since they started really paying attention. She also adds over the five years she has seen much more focus on the issue from consumers and businesses. As for advice, Kerton encourages people to start small. “It can be something very simple, like making one swap from an item that comes in plastic packaging to buying its equivalent in the bulk area and bringing their own container,” she says. “It's important to just make one small change and ensure it’s a change that will work for you and your family.” For more information, visit @ plastic_problems on Instagram and see the tips provided by Kerton below:

List of Tips: Head over to Lovely Body for shampoo/conditioner bars that have very low waste packaging. They are also working on a refill system for some of their products and their bath bombs are wrapped in a fully biodegradable wrap. Thunder Bay Broom & Chemicals sells plastic-free toilet paper. They sell it in large lots that come in a cardboard box, with each roll of toilet paper wrapped in paper, rather than plastic. Recycle the paper wrapping and the roll and the cardboard box. Check out the new The Refill Co. on Oliver Road, where you’re encouraged to bring your own containers and fill them up with several high-quality products, from shampoo to laundry detergent. Many local bakeries will package your bread in your own bag or in a paper bag if you call ahead. The Thunder Bay Country Market is a fantastic place to shop as most vendors will allow you to bring your own container, and many of them will accept empties of their own product to be refilled. Carry a travel mug with you. That way you won't ever be caught in a situation where you’re craving that caffeine and have to take a to-go cup to get it.

You can bring your own container to The Cheese Encounter or the Thunder Oak Cheese Farm to avoid the plastic wrap. The Growing Season and Rebel Salad have an excellent container exchange program. You buy a container the first time, then every time you go, you can bring your container and they'll swap it out for a fresh one. Take stock of what you bring into your house with each grocery shop and focus on making one small change every time after that! You'll be amazed at how easy it is to switch to low packaging or local options. Attend community events that are organized to make change. The climate strikes happening across Canada, and locally here with the Fridays For Future Thunder Bay group, are an excellent place to show up and be heard. Writing letters to our government officials also helps to inform change, as they are the people who can make a difference in terms of public policies. Remember, above all else, refuse is the most important R. A lot of our problems as a western developed society are due to overconsumption. Kerton says, “I received some really great advice a while ago—when I want to buy something new before I buy it, I need to go for a week without it.”

The Walleye

CoverStory

GREEN PEOPLE

Our Shared Responsibility

Lifelong Local Environmentalist Jim Bailey By Julia Prinselaar

“W

e protect what we love.” These wise words are from Michael Soulé, considered by many to be the grandfather of conservation biology. And we love what we know through lived experience. For Jim Bailey, a lifelong local environmentalist, he couldn’t agree more. “Everything I learned about the environment, I learned through experience,” he says, noting that he didn’t come into activism with a strong academic background in environmental issues. Instead, he grew up in a family whose activities were centered around Lake Superior. Whether navigating by

12 The Walleye

boat or kayak, Bailey gained an intimate familiarity with its waters— experience that translated into relationship-building and knowledge-sharing with communities between Thunder Bay and Marathon that faced decades of environmental degradation. “One of the things I enjoyed the most was going into some of these communities like Lake Helen, Pic River, and Pays Plat [First Nations],” recalls Bailey. “There’s just a fantastic amount of knowledge in these communities and that is really bona fide handson experience.” Bailey worked with EcoSuperior Environmental Programs to develop

some of the first household hazardous waste programs in communities along the north shore. He was also employed by Lakehead University as the coordinator of Lake Superior’s North Shore Remedial Action Plan (RAP), one of several cleanup projects aimed at addressing pollution and wildlife habitat restoration around the Great Lakes. One of the RAP’s key challenges is the cleanup of nearly 400,000 cubic metres of mercury-laden sediment deposited in Thunder Bay’s North Harbour after 90 years of paper mill operations. For years, levels of government and community stakeholders have been trying to come up with a viable solution. Based on recent estimates, the cost of short-listed options range between $65 and $80 million. “Keep in mind that this is a really complex and extensive situation,” cautions Bailey. “Companies that brought about this legacy of contamination no longer exist. And where do you put the stuff that you

clean up?” And while it’s easy to point the finger at industry, Bailey sends a humbling reminder to critics. “We need to remember that we’re part of this…many of us ourselves directly benefited from these activities. The community garnered millions [of dollars] in taxes from these industries. All of us have a role. We all benefited.” How can we do better? Bailey says getting everyone at the table to agree on a strategy isn’t easy. But the success of a large-scale environmental cleanup largely lies with community voices. “The bottom line was that in order to bring about these cleanups, community support was really important,” he says. “They cost lots of money and without intervention on the part of community members who really want to see change and an improvement, these efforts just wouldn’t have happened.”

CoverStory

Going Green EcoStrategy

GREEN PLACES

Intercity Shopping Centre Aims to Reduce Waste with Long-Term Initiatives By Sarah Kerton

he management of Intercity Shopping Centre (ISC) has long been supportive of reducing waste and working towards a more sustainable community. With more than 100 stores and food vendors, ISC has a great opportunity to reduce its environmental impact and raise awareness about the need for environmental action. “We actively work with our tenants, employees, suppliers, and visitors as part of our continued effort to reduce ISC's environmental footprint,” says general manager Stacey Ball. ISC was one of the founding members of the Zero Waste Action Team (ZWAT) in 1992, which had membership from the local industrial, commercial, and institutional sectors and sought to eliminate waste and promote education and awareness of the economic benefits of the efficient use of resources. The ZWAT was ahead of its time, and is no longer meeting, but a number of relationships were established alongside a commitment to sustainability that remains amongst its past members. Today, ISC has a “Going Green Eco-Strategy'' with a number of long-term initiatives, one of which is ensuring the collection and repurposing of spent cooking oil. All of the tenant food service establishments in the mall participate in the program, which sees the oil deposited in one of three 90-gallon bins in the parking lot. Every two to three months, a truck from Rothsay, based out of Winnipeg,

comes and gathers the oil. They collect about 9,000 kilos of used cooking oil from the centre annually according to Gary Trochimchuk, operations manager. In operation for over 50 years, Rothsay is a leader in the environmentally responsible management of collecting, processing, and recycling waste from the food industry. The oil collected from Intercity is used to make biodiesel, or is refined and used as an ingredient in animal feed. Biodiesel is a renewable source of fuel, and biodegrades faster than petroleum diesel. On a life-cycle basis, it has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% compared to regular diesel. ISC is managed by Morguard, which provides ISC with opportunities to tap into their corporate expertise and experiences in other communities. Morguard is currently test piloting composting machines at other commercial properties under its management in southern Ontario. As part of its other green initiatives, ISC also collects recyclable materials from tenants bi-weekly, and recycles glass, aluminum, cardboard, mixed

paper, fluorescent light tubes, and non-rechargeable batteries. They sell eco-friendly gift cards, and regularly offer free recycled shopping totes. In the future they plan to transition to green cleaning supplies and are working towards the recycling of fine

plastic wrap. Next time you pay a visit to ISC (with your reusable shopping bag in hand of course), remember the biodiesel and you can feel a little less guilty about indulging in the New York Fries!

The Walleye

CoverStory

GREEN PLACES

Climate Emergency Factors into our Health and What Will Happen Next By Kim Latimer

his year, Thunder Bay declared a climate change emergency. As the North experiences increasing temperatures year after year, climate change threats in northern Ontario escalate. Some risks include flooding, deteriorating ice roads, worsening wildfires, unsafe water, community evacuations, increased respiratory illnesses, and the migration of invasive species carrying threats like Lyme Disease. For the past eight years EarthCare,Thunder Bay’s environmental improvement group, has steadily worked to position climate change at the forefront of the municipal agenda. Their mandate is to “secure the environmental health of our region… working to make Thunder Bay more sustainable, climate-safe and pollution-free.” EarthCare’s focus is to promote policy and regulatory measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the city. The group’s role is to help Thunder Bay plan and deliver on its commitment to reduce community GHG’s by 20 percent below 2009 levels by the year 2020, as documented in their mission statement. Both health and environmental experts agree that climate change is having a direct influence on our

14 The Walleye

health, including the World Health Organization, which declared that climate change is the greatest health challenge of the 21st century. Chances are, you are reading this in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which sure feels like a contender for one of our greatest health challenges. Consider this though: In a recent Maclean’s magazine article, David Zarnett, a lecturer and advisor at the University of Toronto wrote that “Coronavirus poses a threat that comes from other humans, which makes it more psychologically legible than climate change.” But, as he points out, “The devastation from climate change is likely to be far greater and is already being seen. Air pollutants associated with climate change are said to contribute to seven million deaths annually.” EarthCare’s advocacy work ultimately led to Thunder Bay’s declaration of a climate change emergency. Andrew Foulds, chair of EarthCare, says it’s a shift in mindset. The city is now making decisions and planning through a climate change lens. “I think there is a very strong understanding and appreciation of this issue and I think people in this city really care about the environment,” Foulds says. “I don’t want to inflame the situation, but we do have invasive species that are now

stimulate the economy and create new, innovative jobs.” The natural environment is a valuable resource in need of protection, especially in light of COVID19. In fact, some scientists believe there is a direct link between the origin of COVID-19 and climate change. Owen Jones, a columnist with international newspaper The Guardian says “Pandemics and the climate crisis may go hand in hand, too: research suggests that changing weather patterns may drive species to higher altitudes, potentially putting them in contact with diseases for which they have little immunity.” In the face of climate change, and the upcoming flood season followed by forest fire season here in the north, all amidst a pandemic, protecting our natural environment is perhaps more critical now than ever.

Andrew Foulds, chair of EarthCare

v Aelin Foster

EarthCare

able to move, and we have some really aggressive plans coming to stop them from wiping out natural ecosystems. These are some of the movements our society is going to have to adapt to.” As for the climate emergency in Thunder Bay, Foulds says next steps are to educate and advocate for significant changes, including decisions around green infrastructure, green investment, government action, and community mobilization. He says it will take creative solutions, green planning and more green job creation, outlined in EarthCare’s climate adaptation plan. There’s an economic benefit to consider as well, says Foulds: “We continue to push… and there are naysayers who argue that the economy and climate change are working against one another, but I would argue it’s the exact opposite. Investing in climate change will help

CoverStory

Planting Seeds of Inspiration Tackling Climate Change Through Education By Kat Lyzun

reta Thunberg said it best: you are never too small to make a difference. This is what teachers across the city focus on to help their students face the enormity of climate change. “Students are aware of climate change, but their understanding is limited about solutions, or why things are happening,” says Joel Biesenthal, a Grade 7 science teacher at Bishop E.Q. Jennings. “Our goal is to raise awareness and open their eyes to green ideas and solutions. You’re teaching them how to think, not what to think.” Biesenthal is passionate about integrating outdoor and environmental education into his curriculum as much as possible. Luckily, E.Q. Jennings is surrounded by forested area and greenspace, and recently added an awesome outdoor classroom, an idea brought to life by a former student who dedicated her award from a national art competition to the pavilion’s design and

construction. Classes can use the space for lessons and discussions, with the idea that nature fosters creativity and mental stimulation. Nearby is the school’s “tree lab,” a group of 16 boreal tree species that are cared for and monitored by each homeroom. The growth stats are uploaded to a national database for climate change research through the Association for Canadian Educational Resources (ACER)’s Planting for Change initiative. Across town, Grade 7/8 teacher Mike Tracz has his students experience the roots of biodiversity through the gardens at Pope John Paul II. The school has four raised garden beds: one dedicated to traditional Indigenous medicines like sage, tobacco, and cedar; another filled with plants and flowers to attract pollinators; and two dedicated to vegetables and herbs that are harvested in the fall and used by students for class assignments (like planning recipes with local

GREEN PLACES

Bishop E. Q. Jennings Senior Elementary School's outdoor classroom (pavilion) ingredients) and in the school’s culinary program. “We also built garden beds for St. Martin School, and did a smudging ceremony before they planted it with traditional medicines. We had Grade 6 students from St. Ann come here to build their own boxes, which was pretty great. And we are set to work with St. Francis to help them with a traditional medicine wheel garden,” Tracz says. “We are instilling a legacy that we respect nature, and respect the environment. It’s a small scale way to show how you can influence change.” When it comes to embracing active transportation routes, Caroline Cox, program coordinator at EcoSuperior, says local schools have taken up the challenge in a real way. “For instance, students at École Gron Morgan have formed Thunder Bay’s first CAA School Safety Patrol, and there are regular walking groups – either to school or during the day – at Edgewater Park and St. Thomas schools,” she says. St. Margaret and

St. Martin have also held successful walk-to-school events through the Walk or Wheel program run by EcoSuperior and the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. Environmental responsibility is also taken into account with regards to school design and upgrades. For example, the new École Elsie MacGill Public School was designed with many energy-saving and green features, like in-floor radiant heating, lights that dim on sunny days to make use of ambient light, and rain gardens to filter water runoff from large storms. With the number of outdoor classrooms, community gardens, biodiversity curricula, and recycling initiatives at schools across the city, it’s no surprise that 12 have been nationally certified as EcoSchools, joining nearly 2,000 schools across the country dedicated to building up environmental leaders and reducing our collective impact on the earth.

The Walleye

CoverStory

GREEN PLACES (L-R) Jen Mitchell and Sarah Blando

The Refill Co. is Filling a Gap

New Store Offers Bulk and Refills of Everyday Home and Body Care Products Story by Nancy Saunders, Photos by Aelin Foster

isters Jen Mitchell and Sarah Blando were born and raised in Murillo, and are both now raising their families there. They have long been passionate about making efforts to be environmentally friendly by reducing waste, in particular single-use plastics, and lessening their impact on the planet. This desire led them to search out solutions that were practical, affordable, and effective. Seeing a gap in the market in Thunder Bay for eco-friendly wellness products and particularly the option of purchasing those types of products in bulk, they began planning a business that bases both its products and business model on sustainability and joins the growing movement of zero-waste bulk or refill stores. The Refill Co., located at 4277 Oliver Road in Murillo, held a soft opening on March 1 and its grand opening on March 8. Mitchell and Blando were blown away by the support. “We really couldn’t believe the response from the community when we opened, and honestly, even before that,” says Blando.”We have been receiving incredible support from the moment we announced our business on social

16 The Walleye

media. Everyone has been so positive and excited and it has really pushed us to make sure we do our best to provide this community with the products they want to see.” Customers are urged to bring their own containers to refill with various household cleaning, hygiene, and personal products, including bulk shampoo, conditioner, body wash and body lotion from Quebec company Oneka, which has a local connection – half of the team behind the company is Stacey Lecuyer, originally from Thunder Bay. She and her husband grow their products’ ingredients on their organic farm in Quebec. In their words, “here is the challenge: bulk has to be more appealing, more practical. It must offer both a great look and an easy consumer experience.” Mitchell and Blando have surpassed this task through creating a simple but stylish, well-organized and easy-to-navigate space. In addition to Oneka, The Refill Co. offers laundry detergent, hand soap, all-purpose cleaners, dishwasher tablets, and shower melts, all from Canadian companies. Many local products are available including Lovely Body bath bombs, Three

Huggers beeswax wraps, Peace & Quiet Candle Co. and Waxxed Candle Co candles, and ceramic tumblers from P0Ts2G0 (a fun play on Murillo’s postal code). Other products include bamboo toothbrushes, DivaCups, Swedish sponge cloths (that replace 17 rolls of paper towel), and cloth market and produce bags. While customers can bring any bottle or container to be weighed empty, then filled, a great feature is the community bottle bin where extra bottles of various shapes and sizes are waiting to be reused. “I think [it is] one aspect of our store that people really love,” says Mitchell. “People can take or leave some clean bottles or jars to refill with products in our shop. Just another way that we are encouraging everyone to reuse and refill!” The Refill Co. has plans to

expand to offer additional items like dry shampoo, sunscreen, bug spray, and baby products. “We are constantly researching new suppliers and products, and every single time someone suggests something to us, it gives us another opportunity to provide another sustainable product for everyone to discover,” says Blando. Another possible plan for the future is to eventually open a storefront in the city. “Thunder Bay and surrounding area needs this,” says Blando. “People are ready to make some sustainable changes in their homes. We are so happy to be able to make it more convenient for people to make environmentally friendly choices.” The Refill Co.’s hours are Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. Check out their Instagram @TheRefillCo.

CoverStory

GREEN PLACES Thunder Bay Country Market manager Annet Maurer

Bagging Up Change Thunder Bay Country Market Bans Single-Use Plastic Bags Story by Justin Allec, Photos by Aelin Foster

his spring when you visit the Thunder Bay Country Market, you may notice a small change in service. Don’t panic— the vendors will still have all the farm-fresh fixings, delicious baking, high-quality staples, and decadent treats that you look forward to every weekend. What’s different is that vendors will no longer be providing plastic bags to carry out their products. Now, perhaps you’re somewhat environmentally conscious, so you already bring a reusable bag with you when you shop. That’s great! If you don’t, though, there’s time to start. Annet Maurer, market manager, explains that the reason why this ban on plastic bags is only happening now has to do with the vendors’ annual contracts. With a new contract signed on March 1 by all participating vendors, it’s the best time to institute widespread changes of this sort. “We wanted to go easy, so even though vendors are agreeing to the ban when they sign their contract, we’re giving them until July 1 to phase it in,” Maurer explains. “And it’s not like there will be fines or penalties…it’s to have the vendors drive the change.” This gentle approach is so that vendors can have the time to find cost-effective solutions that work for them and their customers. You may have

noticed that many vendors have already transitioned out of using plastic bags in favour of paper bags, but this makes the transition away from plastic official. The market is always taking small steps for improvement, but sometimes, Maurer says, there’s limitations to what they can accomplish. Many vendors are also beholden to food industry regulations that dictate what kind of packaging their products can be sold in, which sometimes necessitates single-use food-grade plastic. In other cases, vendors are limited by the building itself—there aren’t many spaces with the plumbing necessary to facilitate dishwashing, for example, which is necessary when it comes to food service. Maurer is confident that this change will be welcomed by the market’s customers, but it will take some work from all sides. “It’s about changing people’s shopping habits. It took time, but we’ve become accustomed to bringing our own reusable bags, even at regular grocery stores,” Maurer says. “Maybe this means you bring a plastic bag to put your frozen meat in, or a container to put baked goods.” It’s the latest step in the market’s evolution—a small but important one in our efforts to shop local.

Slate River Dairy bottle exchange

Decomposable bags used by Boreal Bakery

Exchangeable and reusable containers

Fruit and veggies in bulk—bring your own bag, no plastic bags

The Walleye

CoverStory

BY THE NUMBERS

How TBay Stacks Up When it Comes to Resource Use, Waste Diversion, and Recycling

Water

By Bonnie Schiedel

120

Waste & Recycling

Number of Treasure Exchange Days held since 2014, where city residents can put unwanted items curbside for pick-up by interested bargain-hunters1

n 2018 (the most recent info available), the City of Thunder Bay collected the following from residential properties:

34 27 18 The Walleye

Tonnes of pumpkins collected for composting (that’s the equivalent of about seven hippos)

Tonnes of tires (that’s the weight of 10 elephants)s)

Tonnes of Christmas trees, to be used for composting and mulching (which weighs the same as 16 rhinos)

Amount in gallons that the average TBay household uses daily (equal to 454 L). That’s equal to approximately 165, 710 L annually, or enough to fill a pool that’s 20 x 40 ft (about 6 x 12 m) and seven feet deep (2.1 m)

6,400 Tonnes of recyclable materials (i.e., cardboard, paper, cans, #1 and #2 plastics, etc), which is equal to the weight of 15,000 grand pianos

CoverStory

Electricity

700 1,000 Average number of kWh (kilowatt hours) of electricity used annually by the average TBay household as of 2019. That’s below the Ontario average of 800–900 kWh annually

Natural Gas

2,690 Cubic metres of natural gas used by an average TBay household per year, as of 2019. That’s a bit higher than other Ontario communities—the average North Bay household uses 2,597 cubic metres and Windsor uses 2,186 cubic metres

January and February: The peak months for electricity use in the city

282

Number of homes that can be supplied with electricity generated by the Mapleward Renewable Generating Station, using methane gas from the landfill3

205

Number of MicroFIT projects completed in Thunder Bay, which refers to residential homes with solar panels installed and generating electricity that is sold back to the province

Tonnes of household hazardous waste (i.e. cans of paint, household cleaners, fluorescent light bulbs, etc)

December, January and February: The months of highest use for natural gas4

2,718 Tonnes of leaf and yard waste, to be used for composting and mulching

The city’s waste diversion rate percentage (i.e., the amount of waste that is diverted from landfills into recycling) in 2018, an increase of 8% since 2013

Information provided by City of Thunder Bay representative, March 2020 equivalent weights calculated at http://www. bluebulbprojects. 2https://www. poolsuppliescanada.ca/how-manylitres-of-water-are-in-my-pool. html And https://www.thunderbay. ca/en/city-services/water-meterreadings-and-billing.aspx com/ measureofthings 3Information provided by Synergy North representative, March 2020 4 Information provided by Union Gas representative, March 2020 1

248

Tonnes of electronic waste (i.e., discarded computers, TVs, printers, etc), which weighs the same as about 150 cars

The Walleye

Food

favourite food (aside from his popcorn). We compromised on adding more plant-based meals throughout the week, as long as there’s no tofu (her one proviso). Deal. Georgia’s request inspired me. I adore plant-based cuisine. I’ve made cookie dough hummus, gado gado, and cashew cheese, all with great reviews! Time to freshen up the usual weekday dinner menu. If

THE GRINNING BELLY

you’re nervous about dipping your toes into vegan cuisine, start with these two tasty snacks. They are easy to make, and great to have in the freezer for grab-and-go treats ( just not for school lunches, as they’re chock-full of nuts). Plus, they’re sweetened only with dates and naturally gluten-free, if that’s important to you.

Chocolate Nutty Energy Bites

(These taste like brownie bites – no, really) Makes 20 or so 2 c pitted dates (soaked if they’re dried out) ½ c raw cashews

Pulse in food processor until reduced to small uniform bits.

½ c raw pecans 2 Tbsp cocoa powder ½ tsp salt 2 Tbsp almond butter (smooth works best) 1 Tbsp non-dairy milk of choice ½ tsp vanilla extract

Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor, and whiz until mixture clumps together well. Shape into 20 balls, about 1 Tbsp each. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze flat. Transfer to freezer bag and try not to eat them all in one go!

½ Tbsp instant coffee powder

Compassionnut Snacks By Chef Rachel Globensky

rowing up on a small farm, we always had homegrown beef, pork, and chicken in the freezer. My family also loved to fish, and we usually had trout or pickerel on hand, too. So when I decided at 19 to become vegetarian, my stepdad (Popsie) didn’t really understand why I’d want to do that to myself. He’s of the opinion that “it’s not a real meal unless there’s meat.” Back then, I ate a lot of chickpea and tomato pasta—I wasn’t, and am still not a fan of meat analogs, and Thunder Bay was not a hotspot of “alternative” foods at that time. Now, with so many local restaurants and vendors at the Thunder Bay

20 The Walleye

Country Market selling plant-based fare, it’s never been a better time to be a veg-head! Realizing I was lactose-intolerant made me pretty much vegan (or vegetarian with hellacious stomach-aches), all of which required too much planning, or me being frequently hangry. Over time, I drifted back over to being omnivorous again, but mostly dairy-free. Popsie keeps our freezer filled with beef and pork he’s helped raise, so I can’t complain. My kid, Georgia, has recently expressed an interest in being vegetarian, until she realized she’d have to give up Popsie’s meatballs and gravy, which is her very

Lemon-Coconut Munchies (So fresh tasting!) Makes 20

½ c raw nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans—whatever you wish) 1 c pitted dates (soaked, if dried out) Zest and juice from 2 lemons ¼– 1/3 c shredded coconut 1–2 Tbsp chia seeds

Pulse in food processor until chopped finely.

Add to food processor, and pulse until the mixture is gloopy and mostly smooth.

Remove gloop from food processor to a medium bowl. Stir in ¼ c coconut and 1 Tbsp chia seeds and set aside for 15–30 minutes. Mixture should set up a bit at that time. If it’s still a sloppy mess after sitting, add in 2 Tbsp more coconut and 1 Tbsp chia seeds. Shape into balls and freeze flat on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Transfer to an air-tight container and keep in the freezer.

Food

DRINK OF THE MONTH

Blueberry Beret Lot 66

Story by Rebekah Skochinski, Photo by Adrian Lysenko

Thank you to our 240+ dedicated volunteers! Aal-hano Marteena Addison Wendy Ajiboye Samuel Allen Shawn Allen Sue Anderson Jonah Armstrong Wendy Arthurs Noah Barry Mary Lee Bauer Fred Baumann Ed Beatty Abigail Bevis Jordan Booth Raven Bortolon Larry Bragg Bill Bragg David Brown Shelly Browning Morrow Linda Bucci Roberto Caccamo Matt Cameron Francis Jocelyn Carl Christian Carolan Ned Cassan Jim Castellan Susan Chadwick Chris Chagnon Kaitlyn Chisholm Doug Clarke Olivia Coghlan Bob Colyer Cecile Cook Chelsea Cook Phil Crooks Jim Crooks Kerry Crooks Mary Louise Crooks Peter Crooks Susie Darby Laura Dewsberry Fred Erb Nathan Fairhurst Steve Fernandes Vanessa Field Bill Foran Tristan Freitag Cara Friday John Furfaro Dan Gallagher Peter Garvock de Montbrun Addison Gauthier Joshua Geddes Carly Geddes Derek

Geddes Erica Goshgarian Cy Gottfred Randy Graba Brian Graham Jackson Green Moe Guay Daniel Hamilton Bev Hamilton Karl Hammond Cole Hansen Bob Harkness Callum Harris Brad Hart Alison Hartman Jenna Hatton John Henderson Jay Henricks Gracie Higdon-Mcgreal Bella Higgins Liz Holm Paul Inkster Jan Irwin Barry Jakobsen Dylan Jakobsen Kristian Jakobsen Terry Jeppessen Kendall Johansen Kelsey Johnston Aidan Johnston Ross Jones Lauren Juurakko Ray Kalko Tauna Kaszor Hilary Kaszor Nicolette Kennedy Debby Ketonen Ken Keyes Jim Kinnear Lydia Kinnunen Hannu Kinnunen Marjorie Kivi Danny Kivi Heather Knutson Ed Kotyk Eugene Krzysik Steph Kuipery Rachael Labor Teigan Lavoie Robbin Lawson John Lawson Myla Ledressay Nicole Lehtinen Eric Lehtinen Sam Lennie Erin Letang Burnadette Letang Wayne Lewandowski Tina Li Juntian Lovis Grace Lovis Peter

Lovis Sharon Luckai Nancy Lui Dingshuo MacDonald Angus MacIntosh Karin Maddox Al Madge Mike Magill Murray Magill Ryan Magus Kim Marchl Ashleigh Martin Doug Mascarin Marty Matula Mike McDonald Patrick McEwan Robert McKutcheon Linda McMullen Alison McMullen Rick McPail Katie McTavish Rachel Mettam Hilary Mettam Rob Mintenko Alex Misener Cole Morrison Don Morrow Lorne Moyer Sam Mullany Mo Nemec Stan Newman Dexter Niemi Elaine Nistico Susan Oikonen Brian Oikonen Tana Oversby Maya Ozburn George Paci Chris Paddington Alison Panula Wendell Parent Bernice Paterson Rob Pedron Sylvia Perreault Angel Peters Lynne Peterson Amanda Peterson Jeff Petsnick Ellie Ponka Glenn Pratt Lyn Quinn Damon Quinn Thomas Quirion Roger Ricci Mario Ripley Mary Ellen Roberts Dawson Robertson Kelly Robinson Anne Rodwell Alyssa Rogowski Sam Ronquest “Rocky” Carl

Rossi Kassandra Roy Matt Ryan Gord Salmon Lis Sandberg Anders Saraka Norm Scott Ray Shanks Meghan Shewuck Charity Sidlar Jim Siebenmann Bettina Simmons Katie Sims John Smith Mary Ellen Stanley Martha Stewart Ewan Stewart Greg Stewart Isobel Stewart Marianne Stoot Dave Storozuk Christine Sudano Liam Surowow Cindy Suttie Dave Tarnawsky Morris Tesolin Claudio Thingstad Jeff Thomson Erin Tietzen Braun Theo Torich Tom Turriff Tim Twigg John Vaillant Mark Van de Sande Casey van Duyn Kevin Van Wyck Rob Vella-Garrick Menowaywin Vukovich Mark Vuorinen Eero Wallace Denise Wallace Glen Watson Maggie Weber Launi Whipp Paul Whitney Kim Wigglesworth Emily Willows Owen Wiwcharyk Gary Wiwcharyk Jan Woodhouse -Wild Angela Workman Beth Workman Robert Wright Ripley Wright Sue Zachary Jill

Sorry Prince, there’s a new hit in town. It’s all thanks to a familiar face in the mixology scene, Marie Skaf, who’s unveiling a new drink menu at Lot 66 with an inventive free-spirited (non-alcoholic) section, including a Blueberry Beret (the kind you won’t find in a secondhand store). The base of this sans-spirits cocktail is a blueberry basil shrub—a delicious concentrated syrup traditionally used as a means to preserve fruit. To that, ginger beer is added for fizz and fun along with some house-made blueberry cordial. It’s then dressed with fragrant sprigs of basil and cheerful circles of dehydrated lime and orange. It’s so pretty you might not want to drink it, but you should because it strikes the perfect balance of sweet, tart, and heat, and will make you feel like you’ve spent the day luxuriating in the sun. If a drink can do that, it’s really something. And this is.

Lot 66 66 Court Street South 683-7708

The Walleye

Food

Sustainable Homebrewing Reducing Environmental Impacts Through Brewing Your Own By Josh Armstrong, PhD, Certified Beer Judge

BREW IT YOURSELF

ow often do you think about the carbon footprint of your food and beverage? Do you ever consider the energy used and the waste outputs from making and shipping your favourite beer? Brewing beer is an energy-intensive process, and to calculate a beer’s environmental impact you need to consider a wide variety of things such as growing the raw ingredients, the electricity used for refrigeration, fuel for transportation of both ingredients and products, natural gas in the brewing process, the making of and replacing of equipment, and the travel of staff, just to name a few. Compared with commercial beer, homebrewing is a great way for beer drinkers to reduce the environmental impact of their beer drinking. This is because homebrewing offers savings on energy for transportation of the product and uses less new packaging. However, even though homebrewing can be better for the environment than commercial brewing, there are still more ways for homebrewers to further reduce their environmental impact of the homemade beer that they consume. Below I outline a few ways to shift your homebrewing practices towards being more sustainable. Ditch plastic It’s very common for people to use plastic buckets as fermenters. While cheap and effective, they get damaged easily, often

22 The Walleye

need to be replaced (any scratches can harbour infections) and are difficult to recycle. To be more sustainable, invest in some stainless steel vessels, as they are easy to clean and will outlast any plastic. Glass fermenters also work well, but can be somewhat dangerous as they are hard to carry and can get very slippery when wet. Reuse spent grain For all-grain homebrewers, once you’re done the brew day, you’re left with many pounds of wet spent grain. Never just throw this in the trash. This waste makes for great compost, but it can also be used to add healthy fibre to dog treats, cookies, brownies, bread, and even pizza dough. Switch to kegging While most people reuse bottles for bottling their beer, the bottling process (in addition to being very time-consuming) uses up a lot of water and cleaning supplies. Switching to kegging can reduce these outputs and allows you to pour flavourful pints from a tap. Plus, you’ll be able to ditch all those one-time-use metal caps. Build up extra yeast/Reuse yeast For any homebrewers, it’s a good idea to learn how to build up extra yeast in a starter or reuse/ wash your yeast. In addition to reducing waste from the packaging, it saves you money not having to buy new yeast for every batch. Most yeast strains won’t change much over multiple uses, so find the best

way for you to make your yeast last across multiple batches. If you are brewing regularly, you can even add a new batch directly on top of the yeast cake that forms in your previous batch! No-chill method The no-chill method is a water-conservation technique developed out of necessity by homebrewers in Australia. Rather than relying on cold water running through an immersion chiller or a counterflow device, the no-chill approach simply has you transfer your hot wort to suitable fermenter (no glass or cheap plastic) and let it cool until it’s at the right temperature for the yeast. This might take a fair bit longer than using a chiller (e.g., overnight), but will save on many litres of water. If you are scared that this additional time will allow your wort to get infected and still insist on using a

chiller, try to capture as much of the water used for chilling for use in your cleaning processes. And there’s still more that you can do as a homebrewer to make your practices more sustainable. Buy your ingredients in bulk, buy organic, brew in small batches to reduce electricity/propane usage, use green products for cleaning (choose biodegradable, environmentally friendly cleaners and sanitizers), insulate your mash tun, grow your own ingredients, buy only durable equipment (or buy used), and more! If you’re not homebrewing, buy local. In addition to reducing the need for long-distance shipping, the Sleeping Giant Brewing Company puts forth great effort to use sustainable, eco-friendly practices in their beer production. Cheers to sustainable beers!

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KINDER grow Thunder Bay Catholic welcomes students and families of all faiths to our schools. Learn more about our incredible Kindergarten Program, Kindergrow and meet our Educators. Register online or in person at our Board OfďŹ ce or your neighbourhood school!

We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to meet you!

24 The Walleye

Food

Grow Your Own Garden Variety Cocktail By Jeannie Dubois, Certified Pommelier and Sommelier

reen is the word du jour as we usher in the month of April up here above the 48th parallel and the memory of winter recedes against the fresh foil of spring. Our advantageous situation on the north shore of the great lake provides us with a moderating climate that, although northerly, places us firmly in a Zone 3 growing region, despite our longitude.

SUPERIOR SIP

With that in mind, it’s easy to create classy and fresh cocktails from scratch with little more than a window box or sunny planter, as our climate will tolerate anything from root vegetables to hearty tender fruit, from leafy greens to berries. Get growing this spring with these fresh herb-inspired cocktails and sip on one while you start plotting out your summer garden!

Green Shoot Greyhound

Raspberry Sage Smash

Lavender Bees Knees

Ingredients:

Rosemary Simple Syrup

6 fresh raspberries

Honey Syrup

2 c water 2 c sugar 6 sprigs fresh rosemary Cocktail 2 oz vodka ½ oz rosemary simple syrup

4 fresh sage leaves 2 tsp white sugar ½ lime juiced Soda water 1 oz vodka Ice

4 oz grapefruit juice

Method:

Sprig of rosemary for garnish

Combine raspberries, sage, sugar, and vodka in the bottom of a tall glass. Muddle until raspberries are smooth. Add juice of half a lime and fill a glass with ice. Top with soda water and stir. Garnish with a sage sprig.

Ice

Method: Rosemary Simple Syrup In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, dissolve sugar in water for about five minutes. Do not let mixture boil or crystals will form. In a heat-safe container, pour warm sugar water mixture over rosemary sprigs and let steep for at least 1 hour. The syrup will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for at least 10 days.

Cocktail In a tall glass filled with ice, combine vodka, simple syrup, and grapefruit juice. Garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary.

¼ c local honey ¼ c water 3 tsp fresh lavender flower Cocktail 2 oz gin ¾ oz honey syrup ¾ oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice Ice Sprig of lavender for garnish

Method: Honey Syrup Place 3 tsp lavender flowers in a small saucepan. Add ¼ c honey and ¼ water and heat gently on low, stirring occasionally until the honey and water are evenly mixed, about 10 minutes. The syrup will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for at least 14 days.

Cocktail Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously until the shaker is frosted and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lavender flower.

The Walleye

FilmTheatre

Grease

Paramount Theatre is Bringing the 50s Back By Bree Bousquet

his April, Paramount Theatre presents its version of the 1971 classic musical, Grease. You will see the familiar roles of Danny, Sandy, and the rest of the crew at Rydell High played by talented local actors. This story revolves around Sandy Dumbrowski, the sweet new girl in town, and Danny Zuko, a greaser bad boy. Over the summer, Danny and Sandy have a secret romance. When the school year starts, Danny is torn between his feelings for good-girl Sandy and his rebellious appearance with the too-cool-for-school Burger Palace Boys. Candi Badanai, the director of the production, chose to do Grease for its popularity with all age groups. “The senior performers of Paramount Live had been requesting to do it for some time,” Badanai says. “It’s my all-time favourite musical and I have enjoyed going back to revisit it.” Although the original musical is 49 years old, Grease is still among the world’s most popular musicals. It still has a cult-like

following to this day, with help from the 1978 film adaptation. Paramount is no stranger to the musical, having done Grease in the past. Grease is known for its memorable songs and characters. Arley Henry will be playing the role of Frenchy, member of the Pink Ladies and beauty school dropout. “I’ve always known that Frenchy was a dream role of mine,” Henry says. “I’m so excited to get to bring that dream to the Paramount stage.” Henry has been doing theatre for almost seven years and has had many opportunities to direct the kids’ and theatre babies groups at Paramount. “I bring a new perspective to Frenchy’s struggles with her future and how she overcomes and grows as a person,” she says. Brandon Doner is taking on two roles in this production, Teen Angel and Eugene. “When people come to see Grease, they will be in for a real treat,” Doner says. “The audience will first be introduced to me as the typical nerdy student, Eugene.” Doner has been in theatre

for five years, and Grease is his 24th musical. “I’m transported to a whole new person when I put on Eugene’s glasses,” he says. In Act Two of the show, Doner changes from nerdy Eugene to Frenchy’s guardian angel, Teen Angel. “The audience will be sure to enjoy the transformation from nerd to angel,” Doner says. “Both of my characters are sure to have the audience laughing at all times.” With spring bringing warmer weather, it’s a perfect time to get out and see some local talent. “Grease a very vibrant upbeat fun musical. The costumes will be sparkly, the dancing will be fun, and the smiles on the performers will make you happy to watch,” Badanai says. You can expect a fun and full of energy show with a talented cast. The show runs April 16–18 and 23–25 at 7 pm at Paramount Theatre. Tickets are $15–$20 and are available at Maple Tops or by calling 344-4080.

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26 The Walleye

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FilmTheatre

THE SECOND MOST PLEASURABLE THING WE DO IN THE DARK. A COLUMN ABOUT MOVIES

Activism in Film

By Michael Sobota

What I’d really like to say to you tonight is thank you. If you’re one of the people that’s put money in the buckets, if you’ve supported LGSM, then thank you, because what you’ve given us is more than money. It’s friendship. When you’re in a battle with an enemy that’s so much bigger, so much stronger than you, well, to find out you had a friend you never knew existed, well, that’s the best feeling in the world. - Dai (Paddy Considine) in Pride

“T

hink globally, act locally” is attributed to a Scottish town planner, Patrick Geddes, back in the early 1900s. So the phrase has been around for about as long as movies have. Activism is an attractive plot driver for stories and most often appears in movie documentaries. There are a number of outstanding feature films built around activism, all inspired by true events and worthy of attention or renewed attention. Here are four—including one that reverses the phrase, anchoring the thinking locally but pursuing the action globally.

Do The Right Thing (1989)

Lions For Lambs (2007)

Promised Land (2012)

Pride (2014)

Spike Lee has been directing films since 1979, when he was just 22 years old. To date, he has 91 directorial credits on his resume. Do The Right Thing, created from a script he wrote himself, was his break-out feature film. It’s also one of the most critically acclaimed films ever. Lee gives us one very hot day in the BedfordStuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. He introduces a broad spectrum of characters of different races and ethnic backgrounds, and the actors he cast bring them to energetic, threedimensional life. In simplistic terms, the film analyzes class and racism in everyday life. Lee’s plotting smoulders and slowly builds to an explosive conclusion that is not surprising, but all the more effective for how he orchestrates it on film. This is an American masterpiece.

This is the film that reverses the slogan. Matthew Michael Carnahan’s screenplay tells three stories simultaneously in real time. A college professor (Robert Redford, who also directed the film) in a student/teacher meeting, chides a bright student (Andrew Garfield) for slacking off. A television journalist (Meryl Streep) interviews a bright, young, right-wing U.S. senator with presidential aspirations about the war in Afghanistan. Two other students of the professor explain why they are enlisting in the U.S. army and then we see them in Afghanistan, trapped in a field, alone, while Taliban forces are surrounding them. All of these stories centre on how waking up, paying attention, and acting on your beliefs is the only way to bring about change in the world, and how our best intentions are not always our best actions.

Matt Damon and John Krasinski co-wrote this screenplay, giving themselves juicy roles to play in opposition to each other’s character. Damon and a seasoned Frances McDormand are salespeople for a large gas company. They arrive in a rural, economically impoverished community and go around to the farmers, offering to buy up drilling rights on their farmland. Krasinski is a rebel activist who comes into the area to rally the farmers against the gas mongrels. Tension ratchets up when Damon and Krasinski both become smitten with a local woman, played by Rosemarie DeWitt. The dialogue is clunky and full of clichés, accurately capturing the way average folk often have conversations with each other, and the strong cast makes the story breathe and come to life.

This is a story about activists during Margaret Thatcher’s campaign to break U.K. miners who are out on a legal strike in 1984. The twist is the activists are gay, in London, while the miners are scattered about rural England. In the city, the gay and lesbian activists raise funds for the strikers, but when they go to deliver the monies, they meet resistance, ignorance, and discrimination. It is as though they are offering tainted support. Director Matthew Warchus delivers the story from a rich, character-driven script by Stephen Beresford. The cast features yet another treasure trove of British stalwarts and upcoming new actors as well as Thatcher herself, growling in archival footage. The story is laced with both gentle and outrageous humour, raising the story above its straightforward dramatic narrative.

And here are six more thinking- and acting-out stories on film: The China Syndrome (1979), Norma Rae (1979,) Silkwood (1983), Bowling For Columbine (2002), Woman at War (2019), and Dark Waters (2019).

28 The Walleye

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FilmTheatre

CONFESSIONS OF A DRAG DEALER

From Baby Queen to Champion By Jimmy Wiggins

f you’ve been to a drag show in Thunder Bay recently, there’s a very good chance you’ve seen Sophia Sapphire perform. She’s the blonde Barbie dancing diva who’s not afraid to do a drop split. Her confidence on stage is infectious and her energy brings the audience to life. She’s part of the Fantasy Haus Drag Family and has performed all over Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario. Sophia’s drag name comes from her connection to a feisty gal from Sicily and her own baby blues. “Growing up watching The Golden Girls I always related to the sassy nature of Sophia Petrillo,” she explains. “Sapphire comes from my very blue eyes.”

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I met Sophia about two years ago at the Thunder Pride Drag Show. The night was winding down and one of the queens in the show, Sharon Selfies (who would eventually become Sophia’s drag mother) introduced me to this little gay boy in a black one-piece with part of the chest cut out. His name was Mackenzie (Max) Sovereign. He was painted, friendly and enthusiastic. Little did I know he would soon become one of TBay’s top drag performers and a recurring headliner. My policy for drag or bands has always been that everyone gets at least one show. Years ago someone took a chance on my band and I’ve always felt that I have to pay

that trust forward. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve taken chances on some less-than-stage-ready acts in my day, but luckily Sophia Sapphire was not one of them. After chatting online about her character and what she wanted to do with drag we booked her debut in the Fantasy Haus Dragiversary Party. Her look was very “executive in the streets and freak in the sheets Barbie doll.” There were some loose ends here, but overall she did a really good job. A few months later Sophia competed in the sixth annual Wig Wars Drag Competition against not only the strongest drag queens in the cut but also some of the strongest kings. This was the first year we dropped the binary and had kings competing against queens so there was one crown, winner take all. Sophia made it all the way to the final round of what is, by design, a very intense competition, and took home second place, an impressive accomplishment for someone with only a few months of experience under her wig. A short time later she competed in a drag pageant and once again took home second place. When Wig Wars came around again the following year Sophia was taking no chances and came in guns blazing. She had new outfits, new wigs, new padding,

a giant new breastplate, and more gags, splits, and reveals than ever before. The crowd and the judges loved it. All her hard work paid off and after three grueling rounds she was crowned the 2019 Wig Wars Champion. Over her relatively short drag career, Sophia Sapphire has shared the stage with RuGirls like Roxxxy Andrews, Pandora Boxx, Acid Betty, Morgan McMichaels, Cynthia Lee Fontaine, and Alexis Mateo, been featured in all three runs of Beauties & Booties (a full choreographed drag and dance production), been a headliner at Kenora Pride and Dryden Pride, performed at the 2019 AmberJam festival after-party as well as the Hunger Cabaret, the Red Carpet Gala for World AIDS Day, Derelicte, and countless bar shows and brunches. This past summer for her birthday she was featured in her very own Drag Roast where her fellow queens and kings got the chance to pay homage and read her for filth. This past February, Sophia cut her hosting teeth and emceed this year’s Thunder Pride Youth Drag Show. Sophia Sapphire will be performing at the eighth annual Divas & Legends Drag Cover Show, April 18 at Black Pirates Pub.

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FilmTheatre

Screwball Comedy Norm Foster’s Tribute to Vintage Films at Magnus By Cathi Winslow

agnus Theatre's Screwball Comedy will leave you breathless with laughter and revelling in the sights and sounds of a past era. Remember Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant in Bringing Up Baby? Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable in It Happened One Night? These are just two of the Hollywood films of the 1930s known as screwball comedies—quick-paced stories with witty dialogue and hilarious gags and pratfalls. In 2017, renowned Canadian playwright Norm Foster created his own tribute to the genre with his play, Screwball Comedy. Foster sets the action in 1938. It’s the story of Mary Hayes, a plucky young woman who struggles to break into the male-dominated field of newspaper journalism, vying with seasoned reporter Jeff Kincaid, whose work has been

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going downhill fast. Editor Mr. Godfrey sets up a competition between Mary and Jeff to see who can write the better story. Jeff’s job is up for grabs. "I always enjoyed those movies," says Magnus artistic director Thom Currie. “The screwball comedy acting style comes from vaudeville. When guys like Howard Hawks started making films in the 1930s, they all came from a theatre background, and that’s what makes it fascinating for me—this idea of a film genre that emerged from a theatre genre, and now we’re taking it back to the theatre.” Screwball Comedy features Foster’s signature snappy dialogue and funny tropes, yet departs from his usual character types to explore early 20th century farce. In his playwright’s note to the script, Foster said the challenge was to

make sure no modern language crept into the dialogue. “It had to be pure and true to that era,” he said. “Also, the characters had to have an innocence about them that you don’t see in today’s films. This was a fun play to write.” “It's a good time to laugh,” Currie says. “The world is bleak right now. I think sometimes we need to go back to a simpler time, to see a story like this and enjoy a silly laugh.” Samantha Piper (Back in '59, Perfect Wedding) will return to the Magnus stage to play Mary Hayes opposite Andrew Alexander’s Jeff Kincaid. Local favourite Amy Sellors will play multiple roles. The show runs April 16 to May 2. Pay-what-you-can performance April 26. For more information on the show and where to buy tickets, visit magnustheatre.com, or stop by the Magnus box office Tuesday– Thursday, 12:30–6 pm and Friday noon–4:30 pm.

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TheArts

The Process is the Art

Heather Cranston’s Tree Prints By Tiffany Jarva

eather CranstonLesniewski’s tree prints are well known and regarded in the region. “It’s been established that I do them,” says Cranston with a huge smile. A graphic designer by trade and artist by heart, Cranston has been creating tree prints for close to four years. Her most recent work is the result of a natural collaboration with the MNRF (Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry) to create some new prints using historical wood—trees that had to be removed at their Natural Resources Centre, lovingly known to locals as the Tree Farm because of its past use as a tree nursery. “The tree nursery manager offered me access to these amazing trees, and it was like offering me

▲Because the rings clog up with ink, Cranston has to start the entire process over again after making about five prints ▼ The process of preparing the wood includes sanding, burning, sometimes ▼ After much trial and error, Cranston says she now knows what will print salting, and then inking. No two prints are identical well, staying true to the tactile look and feel of each piece

34 The Walleye

gold,” says Cranston. Over 70 years ago, these specific spruce trees were planted as a windbreak, close to Pennock Creek. “People have a real love for the tree nursery,” says Cranston. “I find as soon as someone knows where the trees come from, they are more invested in the art because it’s tied to nostalgia.” Her most popular print to date is of a Roots to Harvest tree that had to be removed from the organization’s original site. Cranston studied design at Red River College in Manitoba and has taught printmaking as a sessional instructor to third and fourth year students at Lakehead University. “I have always been involved in art. I see myself as an artist before a designer,” she says. The simple beauty of Cranston’s prints can be a bit deceiving. She explains, with a laugh, that if she knew how much work it was going to be to develop her technique, she never would have started in the first place. “I now understand the process is the art, not the end product,” she says.

Using trial and error, Cranston discovered a few steps to help process the tree rings: she sands first, burns, and then inks the stumps. “Tricks like heat and salt help to elaborate the relief.” Next she inks the wood, creating around five prints, and then starts the whole process again. There is a misconception that it works like an endless stamp, but it’s not a stamp at all. “All prints will be unique even though it comes from the same wood,” she says. All relief prints are originals and because they aren’t digitally enhanced, you can see and feel the texture. “I love the tactile quality,” Cranston says as she runs her finger across the print, adding how special it is because we all have some sort of connection to trees and wood on some level. There will be a show of MNRF tree prints at Mariner’s Hall at the beginning of April. Follow @pulpandpapercreative on Instagram to stay in the know about when prints go on sale.

▼ Cranston’s latest tree ring art installation at Mariner’s Hall will include historical photos of the tree nursery (known locally as the Tree Farm), that were originally part of the windbreak planted over 70 years ago

TheArts

▲Cranston describes the access to the MNRF’s trees as “gold” because the trees are already cut and perfectly dried, making her job easier for processing the wood for printmaking ▼ The white spruce "cookies" that were made available to Cranston were from hazard trees. These trees had blown down during a wind storm in the fall.

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TheArts

FROM THE THUNDER BAY ART GALLERY’S COLLECTION

Beaded Tanned Hide Purse By Caitlyn Bird, Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Gallery Intern Artist: Unknown Title: Beaded tanned hide purse Date: circa 1980 Medium: Smoked moose hide, floral cotton fabric, sinew, and seed beads Dimensions: 26 x 20 cm

his beaded bag was originally part of the From Our Hands: An Exhibition of Native Hand Crafts that travelled and was exhibited at numerous public art galleries in Ontario. It was gifted to the Thunder Bay Art Gallery by the Ontario government in 1985. It seems the artist, in the selection of their materials and techniques, was very considerate in creating a masterpiece that would transcend time.They used the finest of materials, such as smoked moose hide and Czech seed beads, and executed fine details when assembling the bag, such as pinking (zigzag pattern) between seams with sinew. On the front of the bag, you are met with beautiful and intricate floral beadwork, well-balanced in scale, which serves as the focal point of the piece, and an array of colour choices by the artist. Not only is this bag an exquisite

work of art well-executed in design, technique, and method, but it serves as a reminder of tradition and how it plays a vital role in the experiences and aesthetic choices of Indigenous people. The prevalent smell of smoke that remains with the bag, even

not included in the records. We are seeking to reconnect this piece with the artist and community where it originated. If anyone recognizes the work, we would be grateful to hear their stories.

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36 The Walleye

though it was made 40 years ago, brings to mind the traditions and tedious work of preparing and smoking hide in Indigenous communities. Unfortunately, when the work was donated to the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, the name of the artist was

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We look forward to bringing you exciting and engaging live theatre soon! Stay safe. For updates and information, visit magnustheatre.com

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TheArts

a new and fun robot drawn every day. This month is all about animals: a new animal drawn every day. Mackett loves using ink markers and has recently made some amazing images with watercolour paints. More often than not, Mackett’s art is tied to his love of music. “One of my main inspirations is music. I will create monthly playlists of my favourite musical artists (Opeth, Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails) and essentially do a small painting a day based on a specific song.” Sometimes the title of a song triggers something, sometimes it’s a

lyric; other times it’s the way the music makes him feel. A decade of ignoring his desire to create left Mackett anxious, panicked, and stressed. Talking to a counsellor helped him so much, as did returning to creativity. He says his art just began pouring from him and hasn’t stopped. He has many ideas for more monthly themes, sculpture, and larger scale installations. To follow along with Mackett’s daily art challenges please find him on Instagram under @ rymack_creations.

The Fall of the House of Death

The Line Begins to Blur

Lord of Darkness

Love Is Not Enough

Art as Therapy The Art of Ryan Mackett By Leah Morningstar

yan Mackett is an impressive figure of a man who has built himself a fulfilling and multi-faceted career as both an artist and an educator. Mackett attended Lakehead University, securing a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Education. After graduation, he spent some time working in retail and as a supply teacher. A few years ago, he applied for a job with the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority. He was happy to be hired on and is now the communications manager; he made the move from educating children to educating everybody about environmental concerns. The job was a perfect fit, but something was missing. It had been so long since Mackett had made anything creative, except for building Lego sets. Life was busy and art became an afterthought. It was only after a counsellor suggested he

38 The Walleye

get back into art that he decided to actually give it a shot. Even though Mackett had studied art, he had trouble just picking up that pencil or paintbrush. He readily admits to struggling with anxiety and panic attacks for much of his life. It can seem so illogical, but anxiety and panic can make even the smallest of tasks seem insurmountable. Mackett’s counsellor basically ordered him to start drawing or painting and that was the motivation he needed. “That first little creative act opened up the floodgates and I have, more or less, created a unique work of art nearly every day since October 2017,” he says. Every month brings a new self-imposed challenge that is designed to inspire creativity—like Inktober in October, where artists are supposed to draw a quick ink sketch every day for the month. Last month was March of Robots:

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TheArts

Bob Boyer, Bigfoot's Demise, oil on board, 66 x 98 cm

The Drive

Exhibition Features Work by Artists Interpreting Changing Relationship with the Land By Corey Wilkinson, Communications and Marketing Coordinator, Thunder Bay Art Gallery

rom April 11 to May 31 the Thunder Bay Art Gallery is hosting an exhibition featuring an iconic work by Tom Thomson. “The Drive” is considered to be among the artist’s most significant paintings, featuring the logging industry in Algonquin Park. Based on a sketch produced in the summer of 1916 when Thomson was employed as a fire ranger in the park, the work depicts a massive flow of timber spilling over a dam near Algonquin Park and capturing the energy of the logging era. Thomson’s paintings would indelibly shape notions of a distinct Canadian landscape, giving visual shape and texture to a “pure” wilderness that was subject to both collective possession and imagination. Unlike other provincial and national parks, however, the history of Algonquin Park was not one of protecting a pristine environment. The landscape had been dramatically transformed by colonialism, tourism, and industry even in

40 The Walleye

Thomson’s day. The painting captures the intensity of logging in a park that had already been widely clear cut. The industry was the primary shaper of the landscape Thomson painted and made famous, defining this landscape as post-industrial, not the untouched wilderness it is so often described. The Drive, an exhibition organized and circulated by the Art Gallery of Guelph with the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage, situates the work of Thomson, the Group of Seven, and their peers in relation to diverse Canadian and Indigenous artists in order to highlight the complexity of the representation of landscape particularly as it relates to the land and the history of resource development. The exhibition features eight works by Group of Seven painters A.J. Casson, A.Y. Jackson, and J.E.H. MacDonald. This collaboration with the Art Gallery of Guelph allows the Thunder Bay Art Gallery to bring to the city works of enduring national significance that are rarely toured.

Tom Thomson, The Drive, oil on wood board, 132 x 149 cm The Drive is an amazing opportunity for visitors to the gallery to see work from Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven, alongside contemporary Canadian artists. The Thunder Bay Art Gallery has also loaned four works by Indigenous artists from the Permanent Collection to this travelling exhibition. “People of the Forest” by Daphne Odjig merges traditional Indigenous themes and imagery with Cubist and Surrealist influences. “Bigfoot’s Demise” by Bob Boyer blends cultural perspectives, integrating imagery from his Plains Indigenous heritage with European tradition. Robert Houle’s “Banners” and “Two Chiefs Secretly Talking” by Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun are also included. Other artists in the

exhibition are Sonny Assu, Christi Belcourt, Edward Burtynsky, Bonnie Devine, Isuma, Sarah Anne Johnson, Arthur Lismer, Kelly Richardson, Don Russell, Frank Shebageget, and Peter von Tiesenhausen. The Drive is an opportunity for gallery visitors to view significant works by important Canadian artists together with the work of contemporary artists who are interpreting our changed relationship with the land. Placed together, these works speak to the pressing environmental challenges we face in post-colonial Canada and encourage dialogue about the protection of land and water, and the movement toward sustainable practices. For more information, visit theag.ca.

Sonny Assu, The Away Team Beams Down to What Appears to be an Uninhabited Planet, digital intervention on an Emily Carr painting (Vanquished)

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Daphne Odjig, People of the Forest, pastel on paper, 75 x 58 cm

Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun, Two Chiefs Secretly Talking, acrylic on canvas, 97 x 66 cm

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Outdoor

April Sublime Current River Whitewater

Story by Bill Day, Photos by Jean-Marc Biogonnesse

n April, the call of the river is strongest. Rivers are in my soul; they root me to the land like liquid gravity and pull me blissfully down their curious watery paths of uncertainty. My favourite spring river is the Current River. This river drops 300 meters as it courses downward from Ray Lake, past the granitic hills of Tarmola, down through Wishart Forest, Cascades Conservation Area, Trowbridge Falls, Centennial Park, to tumble into Boulevard Lake, and finally to flush out into Lake Superior. I have been excitedly preparing for my first paddle of the season. My paddling gear has been tried on, repaired as necessary, and tested, including my personal floatation device, wet suit, booties, helmet, paddle jacket, poggies (paddling mitts), throw bag (15 m of floating rescue rope), water pump

42 The Walleye

(bailer), paddles, first aid kit, whistle, floatation bags, and of course my well-loved 12-foot solo white water canoe. The growing anticipation has only been accentuated by having watched the winter ice melt and frazil. As the river level rises I will begin to monitor the online river gauge just downstream at Stepstone. Usually by mid-April the water level is perfect, and the river is largely clear of floating ice debris and—most importantly—free from ice dams that congest the river’s narrow rocky pinches and placid pools. Last year, when the river was ready, I sent out texts and emails calling all my paddling friends to the river for our first paddle of the year—I am a stickler for safety, so paddling the spring freshet alone was out of the question. We gathered at my house, which also

▼ Bill Day

happens to be the take-out, and hugged and caught up on news and happenings that occurred during our seasonal winter separation. Like the river, we were finally freed from winter’s hold. In reconnection with each other and the river, we rejoiced in our anticipated paddle together. The shuttle took us upstream a bit more than a kilometre to the put-in, just below Death Falls—the first big drop on the Current River, named thusly by four youth who years ago paddled the river regularly with me and who ran the Falls on the first descent. This dangerous waterfall tumbles over a step-like granitic drop, splits into two courses, and then cascades over boulders and ledges into a big clear eddy pool— our starting place. We warmed up on the Current River’s easy currents and eddies in preparation for our April descent. I surfed a small wave and played in a friendly hydraulic (hole) to test the durability of my balance, edge control, and paddle strokes as if to confirm my readiness for the river

Outdoor

play that waits. From here we paddled downstream. The first rapid is defined by a midstream boulder with a large eddy on river right, followed by a small ledge drop, then an eddy on river left. My paddling buddies and I spend our next hour here. I love the S-turn moved behind the midstream boulder. The forward, draw, and crossbow draw strokes were tested during this move. Once behind the boulder, I paddled up the eddy to a small wave, then I used my cross-forward stroke to ferry back into the safety of the river-right eddy for another go. The surroundings were spectacular. Mature cedar and pine forests, granitic cliffs, and rolling hills added to the majesty of this perfect warm April day. I looked at the other canoeists, smiling and laughing with joy, as they reacquainted themselves with their friends and the river. For we all love spring paddling and this first paddle on the Current River is always sublime. ▲ Marieanne Glazier

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CityScene that there are many kinds of human families. They brought it to fruition with illustrator Lucy Poley. O’Connor knew of Lucy Poley from her work with the Wildlife Conservation Society and liked the style she brought to her work. The book is based on real-life animal families, from meerkats to albatross to penguins to bears. The muted colour and tone of Poley’s illustrations brings the animals to life with animated realism. The families

are shown in their natural habitat, coupled with rhyming prose that “won’t get tiring for adults reading it over and over,” says O’Connor. The more scientific reasoning for each family type is explained at the end of the book. Pick up a copy today and learn about animal inclusivity! To purchase the book locally, visit Ungalli at 16 Cumberland Street or go to everyfamilybook.com

PATTY Every Family is Different

Children’s Book Co-Written by Local Author Deals with Animal Inclusivity By Wendy Wright

eleased in late 2019, Every Family Is Different: Even Animal Families! is a children’s book that looks at different kinds of families. Local author Constance O’Connor collaborated with friend Natalia Rojas to create an inclusive look at families in the animal world, including types of families children may be introduced to in their real world. The benefit to kids and adults alike is seeing that all families are wonderful just as they are. As a freshwater conservation scientist, O’Connor has a view of our natural world that not many do. Her work has taken many different turns—she did her PhD on bass and is a fish scientist (so it’s no wonder her favourite animal

44 The Walleye

family in the book is that of the convict cichlid!)—but she’d always wanted to write a children’s book. She spoke with her friend and co-author Natalia Rojas, who is an early childhood educator, and they came to the realization that there just weren’t any books for kids that captured what they wanted to say. Rojas wanted something for the kids and families she interacted with daily. O’Connor was looking for something for her own growing family and those around her. “There was nothing out there,” O’Connor says. Together O’Connor and Rojas set out to write a book introducing children to the fact that there are many kinds of families in the wild, which would in turn help them understand

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We are pleased to introduce Associates, Alice Colquhoun & Patricia Vo. Alice Colquhoun received her Juris Doctor from Queen’s University Faculty of Law in 2017. While in law school, Alice was named to the Dean’s Honour List in her first two years and was awarded academic prizes for highest standing in multiple courses. Following law school, Alice gained valuable experience articling at a leading litigation boutique in Toronto. She was called to the Bar in 2018. Alice is excited to return to her hometown and join the team at Petrone & Partners practicing primarily civil litigation. Patricia Vo received her Honours Bachelor of Arts (English and Criminology) from the University of Toronto in 2014. Patricia then received her Juris Doctor from Lakehead University’s Bora Laskin Faculty of Law and was subsequently called to the Ontario Bar in 2018. Patricia completed her Practice Placement at the Thunder Bay Legal Aid Office as part of Lakehead University’s integrated practice curriculum. Prior to joining Petrone + Partners she practiced law in Thunder Bay with a focus on criminal defence work. The main focus of her practice is criminal litigation.

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Open Year Round on Wednesday 3:30-6:30pm & Saturday 8:00am-1:00pm

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CityScene Thunder Bay’s climate goals are in line with goals set at the national level. Canada’s climate plan highlights the importance of leaving a habitable planet for future generations by investing in the environment today. For example, investments should be put into renewable energy sources and public transit in order to phase out electricity generated from coal. The impact of climate change is being felt in the Great Lakes basin and this has greatly affected Thunder Bay. According to research from the City of Thunder Bay, “Lake Superior has been recognized as one of the most rapidly warming lakes in the world as summer lake surface temperatures have risen 2.5°C between 1979 and 2006.” Thunder Bay has been proactive in addressing climate change, and continues to invest in green projects that generate clean energy. Three distinct green projects undertaken in Thunder Bay are showcased below.

By Amanjit Garcha, Policy Analyst, Northern Policy Institute

onsider this: Thunder Bay, a carbon neutral city by 2050. This is the vision EarthCare Thunder Bay has for the city once it successfully reduces its energy and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The city’s Sustainability Plan for 2014–2020 has the ambitious goal that specifically aims to reduce GHG emissions by 20% from the year 2009. As reported in EarthCare’s 2018 annual report, Thunder Bay’s dedication to working towards reducing

GHG emissions has already resulted in a 26% decrease in corporate GHG emissions, exceeding the initial target by 6%. The largest source of corporate GHG emissions is natural gas, followed by diesel. Figure 1 indicates the corporate GHG emissions in Thunder Bay by source from 2009 to 2018 and showcases the drop in GHG emissions below the target beginning in 2015.

Figure 1: Corporate GHG emissions target and emissions, Thunder Bay

Total Corporate GHG Emissions (tonnes CO2e) by Source

orporate GHG Emissions nes CO2e) by Source 60,000

Tonnes CO2e

45,000

30,000

15,000

2009

2016

2017

2018

2019

Year * Electricity coefficient decreased from 0.00012 teCO2/kwh in 2009 to 0.00004teCO2/kwh in 2014 - 2018 ** Diesel coefficients changed from 2009 to align with reporting standards of the Global Protocol for Source: Earth Care Thunder Bay, 2018

46 The Walleye

Hatch Hatch’s solar projects in Thunder Bay made use of unused space to develop a system that will generate green and renewable energy for the coming 20 years. The project involved covering six municipal rooftops with solar power generating installations beginning in 2012. The empty space, which totaled 83,000 square feet, now generates 685 kW of power. In bringing the project to life, certain challenges specific to the environment in Thunder Bay needed to be addressed, such as taking into consideration the northern location of the project when considering panel arrangement for maximizing power output, and designing the panels in such a manner that took into consideration the winters in Thunder Bay and factoring in snow removal. Overcoming these challenges and others, Hatch installed Target GHG Emissions solar panels Gasolinethat were able to genDiesel** erate approximately 394 megawatt Natural Gas hours of electricity annually, which Electricity* can power roughly 36 homes.

Target GHG Emissions Gasoline Diesel** Natural Gas Electricity*

Synergy North Synergy North developed a renewable energy project from leased land in the City of Thunder Bay to generate 3.2 megawatts of power from local landfill gas. The project entails employing a section of the solid waste and recycling facility, in which methane gas is present, and using it to fuel two engine-driven generators are capable of producing enough electricity to power roughly 2,000 houses. The beauty of this project is that this is not only greener energy being generated, but there is also roughly 263 million cubic feet of methane gas being converted into energy rather than being released into the environment and adding to GHG emissions. OPG and Gull Bay First Nation Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek (also known as Gull Bay First Nation) worked together to construct a microgrid that will reduce the community’s dependence on diesel. This microgrid project is the “first fully integrated solar and storage microgrid built on-reserve” according to OPG. It is estimated the new technology will help to reduce diesel usage by approximately 130,000 litres, which is about 30% of the community’s current consumption. This project will help eliminate 400 tonnes of carbon emissions annually by investing in a greener source of energy generation. The microgrid became active in 2019 and OPG says it is a “long-term energy supply solution that is both reliable and environmentally sustainable.” Renewable energy sources and reducing GHG emissions are the way of the future, and Thunder Bay is playing its role. These projects are just three of the initiatives underway—there are also efforts being initiated by others. In the 2016 census, 27 farms reported having solar panels and one farm reported having wind turbines as a renewable energy producing system in the Thunder Bay census district. Additionally, the City of Thunder Bay is currently in the process of creating a Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP), for which the community engagement process will be completed by 2021. The community plan will focus

on Thunder Bay moving away from being a fossil-fuel dependent city. And every step counts.

Need someone to talk to?

Sources: Canada. 2019. “Solar Project Brings Renewable Energy to the Community of Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek-Gull Bay First Nation.” Government of Canada. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/natural-resources-canada/news/2019/08/solar-project-brings-renewable-energy-to-the-community-of-kiashke-zaaginganishinaabek--gull-bay-first-nation.html Earth Care Thunder Bay. 2014. “Earth Care Sustainability Plan 2014-2020.” Retrieved from https:// www.thunderbay.ca/en/city-hall/resources/Documents/2014-2020-EarthCare-Sustainability-Plan.pdf Earth Care Thunder Bay. 2018. “Annual Report 2018.” Retrieved from https://www.thunderbay.ca/en/city-hall/ resources/Documents/EarthCare/Attachment-A---EarthCare-Annual-report-2018.pdf Hatch. N.d. “Thunder Bay solar projects.” Retrieved from https://www.hatch.com/en/Projects/Energy/Thunder-Bay-solar-projects

located inside

NATURAL SMILES

We’re here to help.

Thunder Bay’s FREE and QUICK ACCESS Walk-In Counselling Clinic provides singlesession counselling services to people of all ages, on a first come-first served basis.

Wednesday 12pm - 8pm at the following locations:

The Dental Hygiene Boutique

5-509 Edward St., Thunder Bay Mon/Wed/Fri: 5-8pm Sat: 10am-1pm

Both locations open to all ages.

1st & 3rd Wednesday each month Thunder Bay Counselling | 544 Winnipeg Ave.

Last session at 6:30pm.

2nd & 4th Wednesday each month

Ontario Power Generation (OPG). 2019. “New micro grid now producing clean solar power for northwest community.” OPG. Retrieved from https://www.opg. com/story/new-micro-grid-now-producing-clean-solarpower-for-northwest-community/

Child care available.

Children’s Centre Thunder Bay | 283 Lisgar St.

Statistics Canada. 2016. “Farms reporting having renewable energy producing systems in the year prior to the census.” Government of Canada. Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=3210044901

Appointments at other times available upon request!

(807) 684-1880 or (807) 343-5000 tbaycounselling.com | childrenscentre.ca

Synergy North. N.d. “Renewable Power.” Retrieved from https://synergynorth.ca/corporate/renewable-power/ Thunder Bay. 2015. “Climate-Ready City: City of Thunder Bay Climate Adaptation Strategy.” City of Thunder Bay. Retrieved from https://climatereadycity. com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Earthcare_Climate_ Ready_City_Web1.pdf Thunder Bay. N.d. “Community Energy and Emissions Plan.” City of Thunder Bay. Retrieved from https:// getinvolvedthunderbay.ca/community-energy-plan

Time to

Walk-In Counselling Clinic Proudly Presented By:

www.rajphysio.com

(647) 762-0399

into action, Thunder Bay!

Each year, more than 11,000 registered volunteers clean up and beautify Thunder Bay by picking up litter from streets and parks during Spring Up to Clean Up in May. Join these registered volunteers and the many other people in our community who are out picking up trash while taking an evening stroll or going on an outing in the park. REG I STR ANTS RE C E IV E:

· free cleaning supplies · recognition of their efforts · a chance to win great prizes! /springuptocleanup

See the calendar of events and get details on registration online at ecosuperior.org/ springup or call 624-2141

FUNDED BY THE CIT Y OF THUNDER BAY AND DELIVERED BY ECOSUPERIOR

#springuptbay

Funded by the City of Thunder Bay and delivered by Ecosuperior SOLID WASTE & RECYCLING SERVICES

The Walleye

CityScene

Bricks ‘N Mortar

CANNABIS CORNER

The First Hour at Tokyo Smoke

Story by Justin Allec, Photos by Adrian Lysenko

wasn’t surprised that there was a bit of lineup outside of Tokyo Smoke’s doors. Despite it being a chilly Monday morning barely into March, this was an event: an actual cannabis store was set to open its doors in Thunder Bay. Having never entered a dispensary before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The store’s front gave no clues, as the windows were papered over, but the large man checking ID as we walked in certainly did. Beyond that admission through security, though, we found ourselves in a space with the familiar aesthetics of an Apple store: lots of open space contained by white surfaces and glass displays, brushed nickel shelving, a series of tasteful prints by Roy Thomas, and, on display, a wall of cannabis buds. Tokyo Smoke has the chance to set the standard for cannabis stores in Thunder Bay, and they’re taking an education-based approach that attempts to provide a “shopping experience” and link cannabis use to lifestyle. I was a bit amused at how far Tokyo Smoke is taking their destigmatizing efforts. Not only does the space look nothing like a headshop, their salespeople are called “educators” and they’re supposed to provide a “personal shopping experience” in order to pair you with your ideal strain. Our educator explained how Tokyo Smoke had organized their strains— or varietals—into five ethereal

48 The Walleye

categories. Each category gets its own display section complete with sample buds in little pods. These pods have a stopper you can pull out to smell the terpenes, so even if you can’t touch, it’s attractive and convincing. If you’ve only had limited experience with the “legacy market,” as our educator termed days pre-legalization, and you haven’t really explored the Ontario Cannabis Store site, you’re going to be slightly overwhelmed. Along with the wall of smell pods, the store features a terpene bar and other smaller displays for edibles, oils, vapes, and paraphernalia. Aside from some Tokyo Smoke-specific paraphernalia, though, everything is the same as what’s available at the OCS, just more convenient—and with a price tag to match. That’s because Tokyo Smoke sources their products from the OCS for the same price that you pay. For example, Redecan’s Cold Creek Kush is $32.40 for 3.5 grams online with $5 for shipping, but retails for $36 at Tokyo Smoke plus HST. Aside from cost, I’m wondering how long Tokyo Smoke will want to use their education-first approach as the public’s familiarity with cannabis increases, especially given the prospect of another two cannabis retailers opening soon. Regardless, Tokyo Smoke earns a lot of goodwill from me for being first and trying to make it as approachable as possible.

CityScene

COVID-19: Here is a list of what's still open in Thunder Bay

he following is a running list of businesses and organizations still available to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Apologies if we missed you—if you would like your notice added to this list, please contact info@thewalleye.ca. We will keep this list updated online at thewalleye.ca.

Grocery and Food Stores Brent Park Store - Phone orders only, contactless delivery or curbside pickup. Monday Saturday 9 am - 5 pm Cheese Encounter - Monday Saturday 10 am - 6 pm, contactless pickup available, Compass Foods - Tuesday Saturday 10 am - 9 pm, Sunday 11 am - 7 pm Current River Bakery Tuesday - Saturday 6 am - 5 pm George’s Market and Celebrations - Monday - Saturday 9 am - 9 pm, Sunday 10 am - 9 pm, delivery available Holland Bakery - Tuesday - Friday 8 am - 5:30 pm, Saturday 8 am - 5 pm Maltese Grocery - Monday Saturday 9 am - 9 pm, Sunday 10 am - 9 pm, online ordering and delivery available Metro locations - Monday Sunday, 8 am - 8 pm No Frills (County Park) - 7 am - 8 am each day for seniors and disabled. 8 am - 8 pm Renco Foods - Monday - Saturday 8:30 am - 8:30 pm, Sunday 9 am 5 pm Real Canadian Superstore Monday - Sunday, - 8 am - 8 pm Safeway locations - Monday Saturday, 7 am - 11 pm, Sunday 8 am - 11 pm Superior Seasons - Online orders, delivery on Wednesday and Saturday Thunder Bay Country Market Wednesday 3:30 - 6:30 pm, Saturday 8 am - 1 pm

Wholesale Club - Monday - Tuesday 8 am - 6 pm, Wednesday - Saturday 9 am - 6 pm, Sunday 9 am - 5 pm

Open for Takeout/Delivery Barbecupid - Takeout and delivery, Monday 11 am - 7 pm, Tuesday Friday 11 am - 7 pm, Saturday 12 5 pm, Sunday closed

Growing Season - Takeout, 11 am - 6 pm Java Hut - Takeout and delivery, 8 am -7 pm Ling Lee’s Chinese Cuisine Takeout and delivery, 4-8 pm, Tuesday-Sunday

LCBO - Tuesday to Saturday, 11 am - 6 pm Petrie’s Cycle & Sports - Monday to Saturday, 11 am - 5 pm Shoppers Drug Mart - First hour of opening for seniors and disabled only. Check stores. shoppersdrugmart.ca for individual location hours. The Power Center - Monday to Friday 11 am - 7 pm, Saturday 11 am - 5 pm

Bay Village Coffee - Takeout and car hop service, Monday Friday 7 am - 3 pm

Masala Grille - Regular takeout or delivery

Beefcakes Burger Factory Takeout, Sunday - Thursday 11 am - 8 pm, Friday - Saturday 11 am 9 pm

Nook - Takeout and delivery, 4:30-9:30 pm

Toy Sense - FaceTime shopping and curbside pickup, Bay Street location

Oriental Garden - Takeout and delivery, Tuesday-Friday, 11 am9 pm, Saturday 12-9 pm

Accepting Online or Phone Orders

Bight Restaurant and Bar Contactless delivery on Friday, place order by 6 pm Friday Blue Door Bistro - Home meal replacement and delivery, Monday Friday 8 am - 2 pm Both Hands Wood-Fired Pizza & Bakery - Takeout, WednesdaySaturday 11 am - 9 pm Calico Coffeehouse - Takeout, Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 5 pm, Saturday - Sunday 8:30 am - 5 pm Corbett Creek Farm - Online orders, delivery only Curry Up Now Indian Kitchen Pickup and delivery, Monday-Friday 11 am - 10 pm, Saturday 11 am 9 pm, Sunday 11 am - 8 pm Dawson Trail Craft Brewery Bottle shop open, Monday - Tuesday 2 - 8 pm, Wednesday - Friday 12 8 pm, Saturday 12 - 7 pm, Sunday 12 - 5 pm, tap room closed. Delivery available Donut Run - Takeout and pre-order, Wednesday & Friday 12 - 7 pm

Walmart (Memorial Avenue) Monday - Sunday 7 am - 11 pm

Eat Local - Takeout and delivery, 11 am - 8 pm daily

Walmart (Arthur Street) - Monday Sunday 7 am - 10 pm

El Tres - Saturday delivery, orders must be placed before 6 pm Friday

Walmart (Dawson Road) Monday - Sunday 7 am - 10 pm

Food Bebe - Takeout/food orders, Monday - Friday 10:30 am 12:30 pm

Westfort Foods - Monday Sunday 8:30 AM - 8:30 PM

Giorg Cucina é barra -Thursday delivery, orders must placed before 6 pm Wednesday

My Place - Takeout, call for hours

Persian Man - Takeout and delivery, call for hours Pinetree Catering - Hot meal delivery, call or email

Tokyo Smoke - 9 am - 10 pm

Authentique - Delivery available Blush Boutique -Closed but accepting orders via email and DM

REBEL Salad - Takeout, 11 am-6 pm

DIY Studio - Offering DIY home kits via online orders

Salsbury Grill - Pickup 12-8 pm, delivery 3 pm until close, Tuesday-Saturday

Gear Up for Outdoors Online orders and curbside pick up

Salt & Pepper Catering Takeout and delivery, daily Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. Car side pickup and delivery, 9 am - 4 pm Sweet North Bakery (Court St location) - Takeout, Tuesday-Saturday 9 am - 3 pm The Eddy - Takeout, 10 am-8 pm Thunder Oak Cheese Farm Monday - Saturday 9 am - 5 pm Truly Superior Eats & Treats Takeout, call or email for hours up shot coffeehouse - Takeout, Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 3 pm Pie.ology - Delivery, online orders

Open for Retail Sales

JB Evans - Online orders, free local delivery The Loop - Online orders Hey Sailor - Online orders International House of Tea Online orders, free delivery Kitchen Nook - Online orders Lovely Body - Online orders for curbside pickup or delivery Lullaby’s - Online orders mars. Clothing - Online orders and local delivery Naken - Local pickup and delivery Ritual Skin Co. - Online orders Rose N Crantz Roasting Co. Online and phone orders, delivery available Thuja Floral Design - Pickup only

Fresh Air - Bike shop only, Monday - Saturday 10 am - 5 pm

The Loop - Online orders

Intercity Shopping Centre - Most stores are closed but some are still operating - no food court seating

Vanderwees - Phone or email order and curbside pickup

Ungalli Clothing Co. - Online orders

The Walleye

Advertorial

EarthCare Thunder Bay – Just as it Says, Caring for our Earth! By John P. Walas | EarthCare Community Greening Member I have spent a few years now on the EarthCare Community Greening Working Group – one of the seven working areas of Earth Care Thunder Bay, and have had some pretty eye-opening experiences and wish to share them. Our Working Group’s goal is to protect, maintain, and improve the biodiversity ecosystems, and the wellbeing of green infrastructure of Thunder Bay for residents and visitors. Let’s start with who and what is EarthCare Thunder Bay: About EarthCare Thunder Bay EarthCare Thunder Bay’s mission is to lead the community in securing the environmental health of our region, and thereby improve the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of future generations. Together, citizens, community groups, business and City staff are working to make Thunder Bay more sustainable, climate-resilient and pollution-free. EarthCare is governed by the EarthCare Sustainability Plan 2014-2020 that acts as a blueprint EarthCare volunteers and partners at a DePave event in Fall 2019 for a more sustainable and livable Thunder Bay. EarthCare Thunder Bay focuses on the following three What is Climate Change Adaptation? areas: Climate change adaptation consists of initiatives or actions taken in 1. Sustainable development – energy, land use planning, and response to current or projected climate change impacts. Adaptation green buildings works to reduce the effects of climate change on built, natural and social systems. 2. Community lifestyle – adaptation, education, food, mobility, and waste The City of Thunder Bay has committed to taking action to increase its adaptive capacity and resilience, guided by the City of Thunder 3. Natural environment – air, community greening, and water Bay Climate Adaptation Strategy: Climate Ready City. Adaptation is The EarthCare Advisory Committee (EAC) of Council guides essential to reduce the potential for damages that cannot be avoided, EarthCare and the implementation of the EarthCare Sustainability and to take advantage of opportunities that may arise. Plan 2014-2020. The committee is made up of two City Councillors, Community Greening four members of City administration, and six citizen appointees. The Working Groups work directly with City staff and have the ability The Community Greening Working Group meets monthly and to advise Council through the EarthCare Advisory Committee members give a community perspective, input on various issues, of Council. The citizens that make up the working groups are the initiatives, projects, communications, etc. These well attended backbone of EarthCare. meetings ensure the vetting of ideas, providing feedback, as well as engagement, and advocacy for many City greening initiatives. What is Climate Change Mitigation? Climate change mitigation is the promotion of policy, regulatory and project-based measures that contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere which are the cause of climate change. EarthCare Thunder Bay has begun the planning process for the creation of a Community Energy & Emissions Plan (CEEP). EarthCare Thunder Bay will conduct a community-wide energy use and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) inventory and develop an action plan to reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions, with the ultimate goal of making Thunder Bay a carbon neutral city by 2050.

50 The Walleye

This group is a strong sounding board for community engagement, and is made up of City administration, educators, Master Gardeners, Thunder Bay Field Naturalists, and partners such as the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority, EcoSuperior, as well as other community volunteer members and groups dedicated to Thunder Bay’s continued environmental stewardship. I see understanding and cooperation for the work that is being done, the work that will, and does continue to bring our City into a sustainable future. A future built on environmental stewardship and wise use of innovative and thoughtful infrastructure, prudent

Advertorial

remediation of existing infrastructure, and maintenance of the infrastructure. It becomes clear we can be ahead of the curve, as our world transforms itself in the era of global climate change. By taking the time to reflect on, and appreciating the budget and infrastructure constraints facing the City of Thunder Bay every day, this understanding provides the Working Groups the perspective to respectfully provide insight, ideas, suggestions for resource-use, as well as advocacy. Thunder Bay is fortunate as many communities and cities do not have the full engagement of the City administration, citizen groups, and City Council working together. The City is embarking on a commitment to be carbon neutral by the year 2050. This is very achievable when we think of Green Infrastructure and the significant part it is playing in achieving these goals. The following are various community greening projects or initiatives that have been completed or that are ongoing: 1. De-Pave: Where parking lots are torn down and paradise is restored. EcoSuperior has led this initiative since 2019 with much success. 2. L.I.D.s: Low impact developments are areas where natural plants and drainage divert and utilise rainwater run off, cleaning it before it reaches our waterways. 3. Adelaide Monarch Butterfly Garden: Butterfly and pollinator

gardens throughout city golf courses, parks and parkettes add an important source of food, reproduction, and diversity for pollinators. Information signage has been posted for citizen education. 4. Urban Forest and Canopy Cover Management: The prudent application of control methods which is allowing the Emerald Ash Borer to be contained and managed. Tree removal and replacement with suitable species, which will not only thrive both today but also in the future as we adapt to a changing climate. Thunder Bay, when faced with a challenge, takes on the mantle of making it happen, and doing it well. The cooperative spirit and understanding to manage this simply put is stewardship. I believe many generations will look back and appreciate kind of work that has been done to provide a diverse, healthy urban forest and green infrastructure that supports diversity for all citizens to enjoy. I encourage everyone to learn more about EarthCare Thunder Bay and review the Annual Report by visiting: www.earthcarethunderbay.ca

Parks & Open Spaces Section 2020 Capital Projects – Planned Green Initiatives

By Werner Schwar | City of Thunder Bay’s Supervisor – Parks & Open Space Planning safety as many of the wood components are starting to deteriorate. Input from users over the past summer has been received and will help to inform a design for a new playground area. The theme of the new playground will involve “woodland adventure” and strive to integrate the inherent play value of the natural environment that exists in the park with fabricated and custom products for a unique play experience for young and old.

Parks & Open Spaces Staff at the 2019 Teddy Bear’s Picnic asking residents what they want at their City parks

In addition to the usual park facility renewal projects such as tree planting, as well as park walkway and amenity development, three larger capital projects are anticipated to showcase how green infrastructure can be integrated with social and community development. 1. Playground Redesign and Construction at Centennial Park – This popular playground has sadly come to the end of its life in terms of

2. New Splash Pad at Northwood Playfield Park – This Park has been selected for the City’s next splash pad. Upon consultation with neighbourhood and Indigenous stakeholder groups, the theme of the new splash pad area will be “Water is Life” and explore how this can be expressed in everything from the splash pad itself to the supporting amenity area and utilizing the run-off from the splash pad in a Low Impact Development Stormwater Green Infrastructure demonstration project. 3. Reconstruction of the Neebing River Multi-use Trail from Ford Street to Legion Track Drive – this well used section of trail requires rehabilitation and will be upgraded to the new 3 metre wide multi-use standard and will incorporate improved drainage and improved tree and vegetation shoreline planting. This section of trail will also utilize the City’s new Wayfinding Standard signage for identification and direction. Advertorial

The Walleye

CityScene

Stuff We Like

Thunder Bay Tartan

Scottish Whisky

wooltartan.com Don’t have a family tartan? We’ve got you covered. The City of Thunder Bay’s own tartan, Head of the Lakes, was designed by Joan Forrester Troniak and Fiona Irwin to commemorate the city’s 25th anniversary. Consider getting some woven and custommade into a throw, a tam, or a kilt— whatever suits your fancy. *If you intend to weave/use this pattern you may need the written permission of the designer or producer, which can be found in the Scottish Register of Tartans.

969 Fort William Road Whisky is Scotland’s national drink, and if you’d like to enjoy a dram or two, this medium and fruity single malt is an excellent choice with its flavours of caramel, banana chips, dried apricots, and aromas of orange peel, ginger, vanilla, and wildflower honey. It has a medium-intensity and a nice long finish.

GK Textiles

For Tartan Day

By Rebekah Skochinski

t’s estimated there are roughly 25,000 people in Thunder Bay who are of Scottish heritage, and on April 6, it’s National Tartan Day, which promotes Scottish heritage in Canada. So in honour of all the lads and lassies, and a few fine traditions of Scotland, Here’s Stuff We Like for Tartan Day.

$TBD

LCBO

$69.95

Haggis

The Bulk Zone

776 Macdonell Street Don’t knock it ‘til you try it! Haggis, the national dish of Scotland, is available in a convenient tinned variety made from the original Stahly family recipe, which dates back to 1923. Enjoy the traditional taste of this delicious savoury pudding, which consists of lamb, oatmeal, and spices. Typically it’s served alongside mashed potatoes, but it would also make an excellent stuffing. Just heat and serve!

Tartan Boxers JB Evans Fashions & Footwear

122 Frederica Street West What’s under that kilt? If going regimental isn’t your idea of a jolly good time, a pair of Saxx boxers might work nicely, aye? We like these for their handsome classic grey pattern, 3D fit, non chafing flat out seams, their moisturewicking properties, and the fact that they are 95% viscose and 5% spandex for stretch.

$9.99

Scottish Breakfast Tea

$34

International House of Tea

Heather

The Heather Farm

theheatherfarm.com When you think of heather, the legendary flower of Scotland, you think of gorgeous purplepink hues growing on rugged hills. You could also think of your own rock garden! From the Calluna vulgaris family, this Amethyst variety has bright crimson buds and dark green foliage and will flower in August. Summer is coming.

Scottish Shortbread

She Can Cook Catering

facebook.com/ shecancookcatering Originating in Scotland, the first printed recipe for shortbread dates back to 1736. The biscuits were reserved for special occasions like Christmas and are patterned before baking. Lindsay Hamilton of She Can Cook Catering uses a recipe inspired by her mother-in-law, who was born and raised in Scotland, and experimented to get them just right: buttery, crisp, and mildly sweet.

52 The Walleye

$5/dozen

205 Algoma Street South Considered to be the heartiest of all the breakfast teas, this full-bodied blend mixes the finest Estate Assam, Dooars, Nilgiri, and select teas from India and China, making it perfect for starting the day, or for when that mid-afternoon slump hits. Steep a huge pot and sip to your heart’s content.

$6.95 for 50g

CityScene

Transfiguring History

Finding Connection Through the Past By Betty Carpick

s a storyteller, Eleanor Albanese dexterously interweaves themes of beauty, family, history, human connection, and the natural world throughout multiple disciplines—visual art, theatre, hand-crafted tea blending, community-engaged art, and writing. In her debut novel, If Tenderness Be Gold, Albanese uses her poetic eloquence to explore the fragility and the strengths of human struggle. Inspired by her great-grandmother, the sole family survivor of a 3,000-mile steerage journey aboard a crowded and disease-ridden coffin ship during the Irish potato famine, one of the novel’s themes is the centrality of women’s resilience in oppressive circumstances. Set in rural Manitoba and northern Ontario, If Tenderness Be Gold sees an Irish woman, a Scottish midwife, and an Italian herbalist come together during a difficult birth with the resulting union reverberating through subsequent generations. “In many ways, my work as a playwright informed my process of writing the novel,” says Albanese. “However, for the narrative form, I needed to provide more sensory

experience—in the home, on the land, on the water, on the battlefield—using the everyday language of everyday people”. To overcome the challenges and the complexities that arose during the 30 months of work, Albanese placed herself in an imaginary space—an apron—between a theatrical stage and an audience of readers. “I’m happy when I’m dreaming,” says Albanese. “However, at a certain point, I realized that more thorough research would help me understand the nuances of the late 19th and early 20th century, especially the emotional and physical terrain of the First World War. The factual research supported the story. It helped give me a place where I could imagine the characters with the freedom to interpret their truths.” Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Albanese has set much of the novel in the rural community of Hurkett on Black Bay, where her mother’s family grew up. “One day, eight of the siblings recorded recollections of days gone by,” she says. “Even without that artifact, I could imagine life in Hurkett, as the stories had worked their way into my imagination over the years.” The many ways that women influence their children, family and their community resonates with Albanese. “I believe that we carry with us everything that came before. Despite the massive stresses due to poverty, complications from pregnancy and childbirth, large families, and limited access to the larger world, history overlooks these stories, particularly those that are private and hidden.” With clarity and deftness, Albanese gently articulates how the stories of those who have gone before us can help us meet the narrative arcs of our own lives today. If Tenderness Be Gold is available at Indigo – Thunder Bay and through the publisher, Latitude 46 Publishing.

Eleanor Albanese

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The Walleye

CityScene

24/8 Hour SkiLay

Lappe Nordic Ski Club Holds All-Night Event to Celebrate End of Season By Rena Viehbeck

idden in the woods of Lappe, a wild, all-night party takes place every spring that draws winter-lovers from across North America. The 24/8 Hour SkiLay brings cross-country skiers to the Lappe Nordic ski trails to challenge themselves and celebrate the last and best parts of the ski season. The trails are fast, the air is fresh, and the lights are on all night while

54 The Walleye

cross-country skiers loop around a course that is just over 5 km long. This annual tradition started in 1997 and has seen many impressive records set over the years. Many have used this event to get some good long skis in before the end of the winter season, like male and female record setters Werner Schwar and Kelly Henry, who skied 407.8 km and 284.8 km respectively in 24 hours. For those not interested in skiing

through the night but still wanting a distance challenge there is the eighthour SkiLay. Both of these challenges, 24 hours or eight hours, are skied either solo or as a team event, with up to 10 skiers for a 24-hour team. This family-friendly event welcomes all skiers and serves as a major fundraiser for the Lappe Nordic Ski Club and NTDC Thunder Bay. The event includes a potluck supper, saunas and showers on site, breakfast, and prizes, including a huge $1,000 prize for the fastest 24-hour mixed team of four (two men, two women) and for a new solo record set. If you are not feeling race-worthy, join the numerous other recreational teams that don costumes, participate on a kids’ team, or just enjoy a casual ski with

some great friends. Be part of the northern outdoor community and try something wild and different this year. If you're really not feeling the late season skiing this year, don’t worry! You can support the local skiing community and support one of the teams raising funds. And, if there’s still snow, the transitional season event, Run and Ski, will wrap up the ski season on April 11. All runners and skiers welcome!

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CityScene

Derek Gradner and Lisa Shaffer

The Suspicions of Mary J Thunder Bay Public Library Launches Podcast

Story by Shauna Kosoris, Community Hub Assistant - Collections, Thunder Bay Public Library, Photo by Raili Zgrych

ext month, the Thunder Bay Public Library (TBPL) is pleased to begin releasing their very first podcast, The Suspicions of Mary J. The scripted podcast is a nine-episode serialized story, centred around a group of library workers who discover a mysterious journal hidden within the Brodie Street Library’s vault. The characters use the library’s resources to solve the mystery. The first episode will be released in early May, with subsequent episodes released weekly; the podcast will be available on iTunes, Google Podcast, and TBPL’s website.

56 The Walleye

“It was one of the funnest projects I’ve ever worked on,” says Derek Gradner, the library technician who produced The Suspicions of Mary J. “I constantly felt like I was in over my head through this whole thing. But the team working on this project is money—they’re killing it. Each member of the team has contributed something absolutely vital to the product and are all essential to the podcast’s success.” Gradner put together his team of library staff in summer 2018, intending to build a scripted audio drama for the 50th anniversary of TBPL and the amalgamation of Fort

William and Port Arthur into the city of Thunder Bay. Trying to capture an old-school radio drama feel, the entire podcast has been created in-house at the library, with library staff writing the script, voicing, and editing the entire production. The script has been in the works for over a year; the team put together a fictional story that spans three different time periods within Thunder Bay’s history. Voice recording started in January 2020 and just finished up

last month; since then, the team has been hard at work editing the podcast to make the May release. “When we started, I didn’t know if we’d be able to pull this off,” Gradner says. “I still don’t know, but it’s been one hell of a ride doing it. I’m so grateful to the library for granting us the privilege of contributing to the 50th in this way.” Keep an eye—and an ear—open for the podcast, which will be released soon.

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usan Raynak’s upbringing had a lot to do with where she is today -- a volunteer with Hospice Northwest Services. Too often, families treat the prospect of death as the ultimate taboo, but Raynak’s parents encouraged a healthy perspective on the subject. “Everyone’s going to do it,” is the way Sue recalls the approach in her house. And so, retired in 2009 and looking for something new, she spied an ad for hospice volunteers and jumped at the opportunity. Today, Sue is one of 160 volunteers who work with clients in Thunder Bay and five outlying communities. Hospice Northwest training prepares them for any eventuality, she says, whether it be grief support after death, when a person is actively dying, or in cases of a long-term death. Sue’s bright personality and calm approach fit well with her work. She excels at preparing clients and caregivers for the inevitable conclusion of life by helping them to plan for and accept it.

More than just hand-holding, Hospice Northwest volunteers take on a wide variety of tasks. They might do grocery shopping for the family, accompany clients to appointments, talk over end-of-life details involving funeral arrangements, or encourage people to express their emotions and then just listen. In hospice-speak it’s called compassionate listening and it’s essential to get people to open up about things they might not otherwise say or think of.

“Tbaytel is such a unique and important part of the community” “If there is no plan it can add to a family’s misery,” Sue says. These are people you see sobbing uncontrollably at funerals because they are beset by confusion and regret instead of being able to rest assured they are doing what their loved one wanted. Sue learned the importance of support during a training session in her career (not related to Hospice Northwest) at a circus school out of town. Volunteers were told they would have to use a trapeze “and,” Sue explained, “I’m afraid of heights.” But a patient (and handsome) instructor helped her up the ladder and eventually to swing on the trapeze, let go and fall safely into the net below.

never help under other circumstances. And I’ve got a team of helpers for advice.” Volunteer training is done mostly online these days (there are still four in-person sessions) and it’s proved to be popular. Sue encourages anyone seeking a particularly rewarding experience to try volunteering. She also encourages people to participate in the organization’s main fundraiser, Hike For Hospice, at Boulevard Lake May 3 during National Palliative Care Week. Proceeds help to ensure funding for individuals and family members living with life-threatening situations to receive support at no charge. Aside from individual donations, Hospice Northwest counts on major sponsorship initiatives like Tbaytel For Good. “Tbaytel is such a unique and important part of the community,” says Sue. Seeing its promotional support featuring the faces of local people, “It makes a hometowner feel good.”

Visit hospicenorthwest.ca for more information about their services, to donate and to volunteer. Register for the 9th Annual Hike for Hospice – Sunday, May 3, 2020 at Boulevard Lake

“That’s the kind of support that Hospice Northwest does so well,” says Sue. “I take the knowledge I’ve learned and help people I’d

The Walleye

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58 The Walleye

With Erin Beagle

CityScene

As told to Nancy Saunders, Photo by Kay Lee Executive director of Roots to Harvest, Erin Beagle, talks about marine biology, rug hooking, her favourite sport, and a whole lot more. How do you take your coffee? I have a high-maintenance answer. It’s embarrassing. It’s an extra hot, sugar-free, half-sweet vanilla latte. What’s the last photo on your camera roll? It’s a photo of the track at the [Canada Games Complex] because I was running there last night. A friend was texting, “What are you doing?” So I sent that photo of the track: “I’m running back and forth around the Complex.” What is your greatest extravagance? Sometimes when I’m shopping, I buy that Kozy Shack rice pudding. I want to hide it from my family, so I chuck it in the back of the fridge so that I get to eat it. What is your motto? To be of use. Which words of phrases do you overuse? I use the word “totally” a lot. What is your favourite app? I use the Podcast app a lot. I listen to podcasts all the time. When and where were you happiest? I am happy right now. I think that I was my happiest when I worked at Bamfield Marine Station. I did my degree in marine biology, and I did my last semester at Bamfield. I was at my most creative, I was writing poems about seaweed and passing them to people in class, and also whipping off papers and group things really fast, and I was outside all the time. I wasn’t around anybody that I had known before; it was all new people, and a whole new place. Bamfield had always been on my bucket list. What’s your favourite sport? Baseball. I grew up playing fastpitch, and went to university for fastpitch initially but I couldn’t hack it. Simon Fraser University has the only women’s team in Canada. I got recruited from Prince George to go play. I still love playing. I play on a beer league team here in town, the

Dick Waddington Nuevo Bastidores. It’s really fun. Then I started coaching my daughter in girls’ fastpitch, which is super fun. I could watch baseball all day and be very happy. Which talent would you most like to have? I would like to be able to read music and play music. I think that if you know how to play an instrument and you don’t continually play an instrument, it’s like a crime… against humanity. What is your hidden talent? I am a good singer. I like singing. I like pop music. I hate guitar solos because they’re not interesting to someone who sings and who likes to sing along. I like musicals. What’s on your playlist? Anything by Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend, or in that genre. What’s your most treasured possession? I have a box of letters. I used to be a big letter writer. I have all my old letters that I got from people, from my late teens to mid-20s. Pre e-mail. I have some great letters. I love them. They’re in a box; they don’t matter to anyone else but me. How do you unwind? It’s boring: I read a book. I started rug hooking. I really like that. Who is your hero in fiction? Who I really love right now, and it’s only because I’ve been wearing lots of buffs, is Rey, from Star Wars. I love Rey, I want to be Rey. I’m always asking people, “Do I look like Rey right now?” And I don’t, because Rey doesn’t wear glasses. Which is obviously the only difference. I also have a real soft spot for Katniss [from The Hunger Games]. My guilty pleasure is dystopian young adult fiction trilogies. Those are my go-tos. Who is your hero in real life? Mr. Rogers. I love him. For his time and for what he was doing, he was a star. What do you value most in your friends? I think it’s that ability to take me as I am. It sounds egotistical because it’s about me, but it’s… like the details don’t matter.

EYE TO EYE

The Walleye

CityScene

WALL SPACE

Merk’s Asylum Story and Photos by Adrian Lysenko

estled in the woods on the edge of the city limits, you’ll find Merk’s studio. Shelves of comics, graphic novels, and DVDs hug the walls in the open loft-like space. A propane fireplace heats the studio while the window by the artist’s desk faces west and into the boreal forest. “It’s the really big studio that we didn’t expect to be so big,” says Merk. “For the previous 10 years we were in a house in the middle of town, which was great—to be in town—but my studio was the baby’s

room and you can see the amount of stuff I have, especially the comics. They were piled vertically, so it was a bit of a challenge. There was no way I could paint, no way I could do any sort of large pieces.” In his studio, Merk works on his various projects, including illustration (mainly comic book-based), T-shirt making, prints, multimedia, painting, and photography— the majority of which he sells at the Octilius Group booth at the Thunder Bay Country Market.

▼ Podcast equipment - Merk records the Zero Issues podcast in his studio with fellow local artists Bry Kotyk and Kyle Lees, where the three of them discuss and analyze comic books and all things pop culture.

60 The Walleye

▼ Graphic novels and comics - “I have way too many,” he says. “It’s a love and fascination that’s been with me since I’ve been a kid. That’s why I started drawing.”

CityScene

▲ Desk - “My desk is something that we bought two years ago and I was never even able to take out of the box because we had nowhere to put it. So finally, I have a space where I can sit and not develop scoliosis.”

◄ Open Plains - A piece

Merk did for the UNCONSTRAINED: Comic Art by Five Emerging Artists exhibition at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery alongside renowned comic artist Lynn Johnston’s exhibition For Better or For Worse: The Comic Art of Lynn Johnston in 2016. ► Action figures A tradition which started with his fellow podcasters. “Every Christmas, we’re buying each other ridiculously stupid figures, like here’s Lando Calrissian riding Battle Cat.”

▼ Tom Waits by Michael O’Connor - “That was a gift from my wife from Mike who did the ▼ Tools of the trade: sketchbooks, pencils, pens, and ink - “I primarily work paintings in the Madhouse. I love music—music is a huge part of my life, having managed in black and white. I do colour stuff but it’s often digital. So it’s pencil, then HMV and been in bands—but Tom Waits is a personal favourite. I met him once in Vancouver.” it’s inked with Pigma pens or Pigma brush pens or just brush and India ink.”

The TheWalleye Walleye 61 61

CityScene

This is Thunder Bay

This month we asked Thunder Bay residents how they feel about the City of Thunder Bay declaring a climate emergency.

Interviews by Nancy Saunders, Photos by Kay Lee

Kristine: I don’t know a whole lot about it, honestly. I don’t know enough about it to really have an opinion. In general, it should be a primary concern.

Betty: We should just consolidate all the emergencies and work together to build a stronger community.

Harry: I really don’t know anything about that, really… I’m new here in Canada, like three months, and I’ve been told the weather is changing a lot recently, like last year the winter was so cold.

62 The Walleye

Natasha: I think it’s a good idea. I think it is important for us. Thunder Bay should be a leader. We have this ability, we have this awareness that we need to help our earth, and we’re just ignoring it. Fynnley was going to host a workshop because she wanted to help the polar bears, because she’s been reading about the polar bears right now. We postponed it, because we think it’s important. Malcolm, what should we do to help? Malcolm: We can make a poster of someone saving the world, and hang it. Fynnley: I agree there is a climate emergency. I was going to have a workshop for the polar bears. First I was going to do a meditation, then I was going to do art.

Alan: I think the whole world is experiencing a climate emergency right now. I think we were making a lot of progress and going in the right direction, and now with the coronavirus going around, it seems like everything is having to go backwards now a little bit. The masks, the gloves, the biowaste. Hopefully we can make a good compromise soon.

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The Walleye

CityScene

Breaking the Ice

Thunder Bay’s First Female Tugboat Captain Story by Julia Prinselaar, Photo by Bree Bousquet

Sarah Jane Lewis

ach spring, tugboats churn through frigid waters to break up the ice cover in Thunder Bay’s harbour, opening the port’s shipping berths for the season. With powerful engines and robust propellers, tugs are the workhorses of the marine industry, providing critical operations like seasonal ice-breaking, guidance for arriving ships, and rescues for stranded vessels. Captain Sarah Jane Lewis is usually found at the helm of the Point Valour, a 28-metre tugboat owned by Thunder Bay Tug Services. Weighing 247 tonnes, it’s the largest of its kind in the company’s fleet, and the most powerful. The vessel is equipped with a Fairbanks Morse 8-cylinder 16-piston opposing engine with 1333 horsepower. “I love driving it,” says Lewis. “I love seeing Thunder Bay from the harbour. There are tons of owls and pelicans, and wolves on the ice.” Three years ago, the Marathon native became Thunder Bay’s first female tugboat captain. It’s a rare role in a male-dominated industry— while she was completing marine training in southern Ontario, Lewis was one of only nine female officers in a pool of 200. As a full-time captain for a third-generation family-owned company, she says she’s found her place among supportive comrades. “I love it. It’s one of those things

that when I first started, I wasn’t really sure what kind of world this would be and how I would function in this industry,” admits Lewis. “I think it’s going to be easier for women down the line; these small companies are just incredible— they want you to be as hands-on as possible.” Lewis’ work takes her from the engine room to the cockpit, where she is constantly assessing the weather and any number of variables while she’s on the water. “When you’re moving a ship, everything has to be split-second decision making,” she says. “[The wind] could push the boat the wrong way, so I’m constantly looking at [its] direction and how much force I need to push with or against the wind…. Waves, visibility—you anticipate a hundred different things before you even let go of the line.” While Lewis hasn’t had any serious incidents under her watch, Thunder Bay Tug Services was involved in the heroic rescue of the Grampa Woo, an American cruise ship that broke from its mooring lines in a fierce storm and drifted out to Lake Superior with its captain and mate on board. “It was quite a proud moment for the company,” she says. “The responsibility of having everything in your hands is a pretty incredible experience.”

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64 The Walleye

CityScene

Albert Brulé, chief executive officer of the United Way of Thunder Bay, and Kelly Gallagher, president of the board

COVID-19 Community Response Funding The United Way of Thunder Bay Announces Funding Initiatives During Pandemic By Adrian Lysenko

n response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Way of Thunder Bay has announced two funding initiatives aimed to help alleviate the social, economic, and community impacts during the pandemic. “[Since mid-March], we have been reaching out to our partner agencies to ask how they are coping in response to COVID-19 and the anticipated increase in need for support from the people they serve,” says Albert Brulé, chief executive officer of the United Way of Thunder Bay. “We have heard that many are facing financial and other pressures, trying to keep up with the demand and the impacts of various closures, suspension of

services, loss of employment, etc.” The COVID-19 Community Response Fund will provide additional support for the work of frontline organizations striving to ensure that community members affected by the pandemic stay safe, healthy, and have access to basic needs such as food, clothing, hygiene products, shelter, and crisis counselling. The United Way of Thunder Bay says funds collected will stay in the community and go directly to organizations requiring additional support to cope with increased demands for assistance. “Things are changing on a daily basis,” says Brulé. “Accordingly, we determined that it would helpful if we could offer ‘rapid-response’

funding for emergency needs as they arise; and, additionally, provide unrestricted funding to agencies on the frontlines, allowing the discretion and flexibility to make decisions in real-time as to what the needs are most pressing and how they best help individuals and families impacted by the pandemic.” Brulé says any registered charitable non-profit in our community that provides support and services that help meet basic needs of individuals and families impacted by COVID-19 will be eligible to apply. Examples would include food programs, shelters, as well as counselling services. An application form and criteria will be posted on the

United Way’s website. “These are extraordinary circumstances and our community’s non-profits are going to extraordinary lengths to make sure that people affected by COVID-19 get the help they need,” he says. “We want residents and agencies that are doing crucial work in our community to know that we are here to help.” While the United Way office is closed to the public at this time, donations to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund can be made online at uwaytbay.ca or by mail to United Way of Thunder Bay, 1006-715 Hewitson Street, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 6B5.

The Walleye

CityScene

GO LOCAL THUNDER BAY COUNTRY MARKET

Jen Hakala

Sprucedale Farms Story and Photos by Aelin Foster

his spring, come satisfy your sweet tooth at the Sprucedale Farms stall at the Thunder Bay Country Market. A recent addition to the market, Sprucedale Farms offers a large selection of delicious homemade fudge made by owner Jen Hakala. Jen started the business back in late 2016 as a creative outlet, and with encouragement from friends and family, she joined the market last February. Fudge making is something Jen has been doing since she was a teenager. Wanting to help her mom with the Christmas baking but not being allowed to do any of her mom’s signature recipes, Jen started a search for her own recipe. “So I flipped through my mom’s cookbooks, and my first flavour jumped out at me: butterscotch.” Jen still makes butterscotch to this day. After her husband Jon tried and loved it, she was encouraged to find new flavours and create her own, eventually leading her to start Sprucedale Farms. Jen’s goal is to offer full-flavoured fudge, rather than a fudge that is too

66 The Walleye

sweet. With that in mind, she makes over 70 different flavours, including triple chocolate, salted caramel, and maple walnut. Her favourite flavour is the entire Prohibition line, a line of fudges with a special ingredient: alcohol. “I love seeing the reaction of my customers when I tell them I actually add alcohol to those flavours,” she says. The Hakalas are very excited to be at the market and have been welcomed wholeheartedly by other vendors. "We can’t believe how friendly and welcoming the atmosphere at the market has been,” she says. “One of the most exciting things about the market is the support system from other vendors.” Having just celebrated their seventh anniversary together, the Hakalas are excited to see where this next chapter with the market takes them. So come on down to the Thunder Bay Country Market and satisfy your cravings with Sprucedale Farms’ incredible variety of different fudges. For more information, find them on Facebook or Instagram.

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CityScene

Tree City

Thunder Bay Receives Prestigious Award By Pat Forrest

hunder Bay’s brand, “Superior by Nature,” speaks to the natural beauty that surrounds it and is within it, as well as its location on the shores of the world’s largest freshwater lake. In February, the city’s commitment to keep the city green, healthy, and vibrant was recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Arbor Day Foundation with the awarding of Tree Cities of the World designation. The international program celebrates cities across all continents that meet core standards for the planning and care of urban trees and forests: establish responsibility, set the rules, know what you have, allocate the resources, and celebrate the achievements. Robert Scott is Thunder Bay’s emerald ash borer services coordinator intern in the Forest and Horticulture section, which is supervised by a registered professional forester and manages well over

68 The Walleye

30,000 trees within the city limits. He says that the recognition came about as a result of his department submitting an application that provided proof that the city had met all five of the core standards. The city’s Urban Forest Management Plan, approved in 2011, laid the foundation for developing a comprehensive, efficient, and effective urban forestry program, building on its longstanding history of urban forest development and protection. Its canopy study measures the percent of the community that is covered by tree canopies and indications are that the cover is growing, currently approaching 28%. The city has also undertaken an inventory of all publicly owned trees and supports their well-being through a public tree bylaw that sets the rules and standards. Under the bylaw, public trees must be managed by the city and a certified arborist and its states that any work done if not approved could be considered damage.

Scott says that people should be both proud and inspired by the recognition as a Tree City as only nine in Canada and 53 worldwide received the honour this year. “To be added to the same list as cities such as Halifax and Edmonton is pretty impressive,” he says. He adds that trees provide numerous benefits to a community including stormwater

management, energy reduction, improving air quality, aesthetics, and lowering temperatures on hot days. “Plus, for people who can’t venture out of the city, it’s the only forest they know,” he says. Two tree planting events are planned for this year: one on Arbor Day on May 23 and another for late September.

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Welcome to Thunder Bay

Sail Superior Launching Catamaran Tours from the Harbour By Ayano Hodouchi Dempsey

regory Heroux heads this month to St. Vincent in the Caribbean to bring a 50-foot catamaran home to Thunder Bay. The owner of the sailing tour company Sail Superior will make the 4,000 nautical mile trip home over two months, traveling through the Caribbean islands towards Florida, north along the east coast to New York, up the Hudson River, then cutting across to Buffalo and Lake Erie. From there, he heads to Lake Huron, then Lake Superior. “I’ll be here by June 15,” he says. A catamaran had been on Heroux’s mind for a long time—ten years—and he applied for a grant three years ago. Last year, his company became one of the recipients of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund (NOHFC), allowing him to embark on the costly endeavour. The catamaran—named the Welcome—will mean groups of up to 24 passengers can sail in comfortable, stable surroundings. “Everybody thinks Lake Superior can get rough, or it might rain, but the stability of a catamaran is amazing. It doesn’t heel. And if it rains, the catamaran is covered, so it’s not an issue,” Heroux explains. The catamaran has five cabins and can take up to 12 people on

70 The Walleye

overnight or extended trips, but this summer, it will mostly be staying close to Thunder Bay. Sail Superior is already accepting bookings, starting off with July 1 fireworks. Throughout the summer, there will be harbour sailing tours, wine and cheese cruises and lunch on a boat. Heroux wants to make Thunder Bay a destination city and attract tourists from Winnipeg, Minnesota, and beyond. Because the boat is much more spacious than the rest of Sail Superior’s fleet, people can make private bookings for groups as small as six. There will be other passengers on board, but each group can have its own nook, much like a restaurant. “We have such a gorgeous environment, we just have to provide ways for people to access it,” says Heroux. Not everybody has a boat, or can kayak or sail. There will be day trips to the Sleeping Giant, Porphyry Island, Thomson Island, and the Welcome Islands. “It’s amazing out there—there’s about six, seven, eight species of birds that you see out there. Pelicans, bald eagles, cormorants, mergansers, blue herons—you see them every time you go, and not just one, but flocks.”

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Music

Outsiders Concert TBSO’s Evening of Music Off the Beaten Path Story by Ayano Hodouchi Dempsey, Photos by Kevin Dempsey

n March 12, the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra managed to squeeze in their fourth concert of the masters series before they cancelled all events for two weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic. Subtitled the Outsiders Concert, the evening featured a work by African-American composer George Walker, variations based on a traditional Chippewa song by Régent Levasseur, a movement from a piece by the TBSO’s own artistic director Paul Haas, and Soviet composer Dmitry Shostakovich, with whom Josef Stalin famously had a love-hate relationship.

72 The Walleye

Walker’s Lyric for Strings showed off the local orchestra’s strings at their best—soft, moist, and soothing like balm, the music came together in harmonious lucidity. Levasseur’s Farewell to the Warriors is a variation on a song sung by Chippewa women as their men went to war. Guest violinist Tara-Louise Montour was born in the Mohawk community of Kahnawake, but was raised in Montreal by adoptive parents. When she searched for music to reflect both her Indigenous heritage and the artistic environment of her childhood (her mother was a ballet dancer and her father a composer),

she couldn’t find anything, so she asked Levasseur to compose one for her. He found an old song—recorded in 1908—in a library, and used that as the theme for 14 variations. The song is plaintive yet elegant in its simplicity, and the strength and underlying power of the melody was enhanced by the warm tones of Montour’s violin. Intense, mystic and eloquent, the music showed the resilience of the Chippewa women and the ending was reminiscent of Vaughan WIlliams’ The Lark Ascending, with its luminous hopefulness. The first half ended with Hass’ … in spirals … a slow-motion spiralling of arching notes. Airy and lustrous, the music seemed suspended in water.

Shostakovich’s 5th Symphony was, in stark contrast, gritty and tense, although the TBSO’s string section wasn’t quite abrasive enough to capture the whiff of Soviet ugliness. The percussionists, however, did a great job of shoring up the small orchestra; a symphony like this would typically be performed by an orchestra more than twice the size of the TBSO. Sharp and witty, Haas captured the angularity of the second movement well. The woodwinds gleamed in the third movement, and the brass section was in glorious form for the finale. The strings showed their mettle and stamina and the whole ensemble came together for a thunderous ending.

“I

can’t believe I’ve been in a band called WHOOP-Szo for over a decade,” Adam Sturgeon chuckles towards the end of our interview. I’ve reached the guitarist and bandleader ahead of their latest tour, which will feature a Thunder Bay date at the Apollo on April 15. Unusual name aside, the five-piece bridging London and Guelph are on the rise in the Canadian scene thanks to a vibrant style of indie rock, a relentless touring schedule, and a vocal commitment to Indigenous communities. It’s taken them some work, but on 2019’s Warrior Down, WHOOPSzo have perfected that curious style of indie rock that fits all aspects of your life. It’s perfect on headphones in the dark but also can move a dance floor. It’s incredibly heavy at times, especially when the ultra-distorted sludge riffs barge in, but it’s also shot through with psychedelic suites and airy keyboards that keep the songs moving. Sturgeon’s lyrics also do a lot of heavy lifting, as he’s drawing heavily from his Anishinaabe roots along with all the anger and confusion that comes from negotiating a notquite-post-colonial world. The album received a lot of accolades in 2019 precisely because of this balance, but it took the band time to get here. “We’ve been consistent at five members for over seven years now, and with that you get a lot of ideas… but we’ve learned how to pull the reins

Music in on ourselves, get to some sort of cohesion,” Sturgeon says. This is reflected by Warrior Down’s concise 35-minute runtime. It’s not so far from the psychedelic freak outs of their 2014 debut Qallunaat/Odemin, but everything—drums, distortion, Sturgeon’s lyrical takedowns—is dialed in, which translates to maximum impact in the live setting. As much as the band is focused on Indigenous communities and relating some of those stories through their music, Sturgeon doesn’t see WHOOP-Szo as an “Indigenous band.” With the exception of keyboardist Kirsten Kurvink Palm, the other band members aren’t from Indigenous backgrounds and WHOOP-Szo don’t play what’s traditionally considered to be “Indigenous music”: “There’s no one beating the drum, or doing the traditional singing… and there’s a danger in expecting that of music made by Indigenous artists, a limitation that keeps the artist out of the mainstream.” Given the weirdly approachable sounds WHOOP-Szo has perfected at full volume and an enthralling live show, the band’s hurdling over those rote categorizations to become a presence in the Canadian indie scene.

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Dancing Between Chaos and Calm WHOOP-Szo Arrive at the Apollo

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Music

Small Town Artillery

BC Funk-Rockers to Visit Thunder Bay in April Story by Kris Ketonen, Photo by Mary Matheson

he horn-infused, funk-driven rock of Small Town Artillery is about getting the crowd moving. Guitarist and vocalist Tom van Deursen compares the effect the band is trying to achieve as “kind of like EDM, or a good rock song, when it’s building up and then all of a sudden it unleashes. Your body springs into the air, your knees kind of bend for you and launch you up,” he says. “That feeling of soaring. I really like that feeling, and rock was the best way to do it.” Add a horn section to things, and you have a pretty unique sound being blasted out by Small Town Artillery.

74 The Walleye

“When we started playing shows with horns, the crowd moved in a different way,” he says. “People danced more enthusiastically. So we kept it, and it’s really been such a joy touring with a brass section and playing with a brass section, because there’s now so many instruments I can turn around and delegate something to. The trumpet can take attention, then the sax can take attention, then the bass, then the guitar, then the vocals, so there’s lots of moments for dynamics in the show.” Small Town Artillery formed six years ago in Kaslo, British Columbia, but the band was more of a side

project for the first three years. Van Deursen had been touring with another band, but that project began to slow down in 2017. At the same time, his brother Derek was in college, studying to be a teacher. “In 2017 we met up, and our schedules were opening up,” van Deursen says. “We said ‘let’s go for it.’ We’ve wanted to do this together forever.” They began booking their own shows— including playing backyard parties throughout British Columbia—and the band’s name started spreading. Since then, Small Town Artillery has released two albums—a self-titled album in 2017, and then Don’t Talk Away the Magic the next year.

The band has been releasing singles since the fall, and more of those are coming, van Deursen says. As for the live show, he promises something energetic and story-driven. “A lot of the new music is telling stories—other peoples’ stories,” he says. “There’ll be a narrative to follow.”

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Music

Harold Wevers Principal Bassoon, TBSO By Kris Ketonen Born: Princeton, New Jersey Instrument: Bassoon Age you started to study music: 13 How long have you been with TBSO: Since 1975 What’s on personal playlist: Haydn, Mahler

or someone who initially planned on leaving the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra after a season or two, Harold Wevers has become a mainstay. Wevers, who joined the symphony in 1975, is currently the longest-serving member of the TBSO. His plans for a short stay changed quickly. “During the first year here, I just became more and more totally addicted to playing bassoon,” Wevers says. “You’re working for perfection, which you never get, and that sort of challenge is happening all the time.” Wevers first picked up a bassoon in Grade 9. “My two older brothers were in the string program, and I figured I was going to be in the string program, so I was looking forward to playing cello,” he says. “But somehow or other, I got put in the band program.”

“They had these things out, the new instruments, alphabetically,” Wevers says. “So by the time it came to me, I had a choice between (baritone) saxophone, and bassoon.” The bassoon, Wevers says, is an instrument with quite the learning curve. “It takes a long time to make a sound, and another long time to make it sound any good,” he says. “By the end of Grade 9, I was still really grumbly with it, but I had one for the summer. Half-way through the summer, something clicked, and that was it.” Wevers went on to play the instrument in the National Youth Orchestra of Canada in Grade 12. That was when he met fellow bassoonist Loren Glickman, who’s remained his mentor and teacher since. “He was a big name in New York,” Wevers says. “When I came up here, he said ‘what the hell are you doing up [there]? Come to New York and I’ll set you up.’ Which he doubtless would have.” “I liked it up here because of my writing,” Wevers adds. “I need a long time to write.”

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Music

BURNING TO THE SKY

The Rise and Fall of Grunge Story by Gord Ellis, Photo by Danny Clinch

his column has to start with a bit of an admission. Although I was fully aware of the grunge music movement when it was happening—and was even excited by the energy of it—it was not something I embraced. Perhaps the self-conscious borrowing of the punk ethos was part of it. Plus the wardrobe, which was one part Neil Young, one part Johnny Rotten, a lot of flannel shirts and shapeless jeans. But, of course, that was all on the surface. In retrospect, grunge gave birth to some major stars and huge bands. It also revitalized rock music at a time when things were a little on the limp side. The 1980s, with its reliance on synths, gated drums, and muted, processed guitars had pretty much run its course, leaving a vacuum in the pop radio world. So in the late 1980s and early 1990s the time was right for a more strippeddown sound to emerge, and it did. Grunge borrowed heavily from both

76 The Walleye

the Sex Pistols and metal bands like Black Sabbath. It might have been born from a West Coast punk thing, but the sound and production was different. Most grunge had heavy drums, distorted guitar and often anguished, generally powerful vocals. The writing was also a bit more intricate. It was called the "Seattle sound,” but while Seattle is credited with being the birthplace of grunge, neighbouring Portland also had its own grunge scene. In Seattle, the Crocodile Cafe was the grunge incubator. The club is still open today. As everybody who has made it this far in the column knows, Nirvana was the most famous, and most successful, of the grunge era bands. This was largely due to the massive worldwide popularity of their album Nevermind, which was embraced by pop and rock radio, and quickly took the once-indie band into the stratosphere. Sadly, it was a place that the band’s lead

singer, guitarist and songwriter Kurt Cobain, was singularly unequipped to handle. He had no defense for superstardom. His battle with mental illness and addiction has been well documented and ended tragically. The death of Cobain more or less ended grunge, but it did not end the incredible legacy of music that came from so many bands. What is sometimes forgotten about grunge is how musical many of the bands were, and how much that influence would be felt for years to come. The Melvins were a Seattle group that first made the heavy sound that would characterize grunge. Along with the Melvins, Mudhoney, Soundgarden, and Tad are considered to be among the earliest grunge bands. All of these bands were signed to Sub Pop. Mudhoney’s Mark Arm is often credited with actually coining the term “grunge.” Soundgarden and Alice in Chains had rabid followings, and even influenced classic rockers like Peter Frampton, who would later do an amazing cover of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun.” With the huge success of Nevermind, another grunge-centric band, Pearl Jam, rode the wave and started to see their popularity soar. Pearl Jam’s debut, Ten, ripped up the

charts, and got the attention of many critics and musicians, not the least of whom was Neil Young. Young was called the “godfather of grunge” due largely to his use of heavy distortion. In time, Young and Pearl Jam would work together. Pearl Jam was always different from most grunge bands. Their melodies were stronger, their playing more intricate, and the band’s roots owed as much to The Who as The Clash. Pearl Jam’s members would ultimately distance themselves from grunge, although the tag would follow the group for years. However, with grunge now nearly 30 years into the rear view mirror, Pearl Jam is still around, with an insanely loyal following and their own Sirius XM channel. Pearl Jam was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, in their first year of eligibility. The band has just released a new album, Gigaton, that is receiving good notices and has an impressive—if against type—single called "Dance of the Clairvoyants." The band was all set to tour Canada this spring, before COVID-19 put an end to that. But in 2020, Pearl Jam remains the longest and most relevant remaining band born of grunge. Not a bad legacy to have.

Music

ometimes spontaneity is the best ingredient for creative freedom. This seems to be the case with Nadjiwan’s new album The Dog Lake Sessions. Indigenous musician Marc Meriläinen, who is behind Nadjiwan, recorded the album in August 2019, in a cabin on Dog Lake with his two sons Cole Rivers Meriläinen (bass) and Fox Meriläinen (percussion). “We were between shows on tour and needed a place for some R&R. We knew people that had set up camp for the summer at Dog Lake Resort and recommended it as a place to recharge our batteries,” he says. “I always travel with some basic recording gear to demo ideas that I may come up with while on the road. I had always wanted to do a recording in a cabin more as an experiment because I read about other artists doing it.” The first Nadjiwan release, Brother, was recorded in an old farmhouse in Bothwell, Ontario and Meriläinen, who was born in northern Manitoba but raised in Thunder Bay, says he loved the vibe of not working in a studio. “I also thought the cabin would offer a distraction-free environment to create freely,” he says. Although the album is mainly about loss, he says it has an optimistic message of how we can lift ourselves up from the feeling of hopelessness with love finding a way. “I started off writing this record as a way to deal with emotions regarding the passing of my father last spring,” he says. “When the loss of a loved one occurs, the ones who remain sometimes struggle with various emotional challenges. However, through the power of love, family, and community, we can find strength and resolve.” The musician says that where his other albums and singles were more planned commercial releases with some sort of pre-planned creative direction or strategy, The Dog Lake Sessions was unplanned and the songs were created on the spot usually in one or two takes. “This process felt way more natural and organic,” he says. “I went into the process with zero expectations, so it felt like there were no boundaries or creative barriers holding me back.” As for the future, Meriläinen says this will be the first year he

The Dog Lake Sessions

Nadjiwan Releases New Album About the Power of Love, Family, and Community By Adrian Lysenko

won’t be touring, but is planning a Nadjiwan world tour in 2021 as well as some other projects. “Currently, I'm working on demos for the next Nadjiwan full length album, which will go into pre-production this fall. My wife [Laura Meriläinen] and I are focused on running our label Meriläinen Müsic and we are excited to be releasing material from various talented Indigenous artists from right here in our own backyard.” For more information, visit headingnorthmusic.com.

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Music

Enter Sandman

Metallica-Sanctioned Cover Band Ready to Rock By Neil Burke

andman, the only sanctioned and endorsed Metallica tribute band, makes a stop to Thunder Bay on April 11 at NV Music Hall. The band was formed in Kitchener, Ontario in 1993 by lead vocalist Rickferd Van Dyk, Paul Fonseca (bass/vocals), Brent Niemi (drums), and Joe Di Taranto (guitar/vocals). Although this marks Sandman’s first trip to Thunder Bay, both drummer Brent Niemi and bassist Paul Fonesca have been to the city before, as former members of Canadian rock band Helix. Van Dyk, who also performs in a Canadian punk-influenced rock band, Headstones, says the band started due to everyone having “common depth,” and adding that the reason they chose to pay tribute to Metallica was “it was the closest thing to what the band was doing.” Van Dyk says Sandman focuses on

Metallica’s earlier works, from their 1983 debut album Kill ‘Em All to 1991’s self-titled album, adding that fans prefer the earlier albums. Metallica themselves were at first angry, sending a cease and desist letter to the band. However when the band saw how Sandman played, they were told simply: “you guys are great, carry on.” As for what to expect from a Sandman show, Van Dyk says “aggression, precision, and attention to detail. We play the music the way it should be played… we’re not weekend warriors. We do Metallica justice.”

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Music

Riot of a Lifetime Remembering Camden Blues

and opening set at the Thunder Bay Bluesfest. We didn’t talk about anything of consequence; I might not have even been the first or last person to stop and chat with him. I remember it because he wasn’t on stage, or even amongst friends, but simply relaxing on a summer evening. We—the city, the music

community—had years to say goodbye. His diagnosis wasn’t a secret, and he made no bones about what the doctors had told him. Somehow, he moved past all the expiration dates to the point that when you talked to him or saw him perform, inevitably somewhere in downtown Port Arthur, you forgot that he had one. Rest in power, Camden.

Story by Justin Allec, Photos by Keegan Richard

n the weeks after Camden Blues—né Tiura—passed away, there was an outpouring on social media. Friends both local and distant started a Facebook group dedicated to his memory, and slowly began gathering bits and pieces of his life to share. There’s (almost) every known recording of his music, from his stocked Bandcamp page to jittery cell phone videos of him ruling Black Pirates Pub’s stage. There are flyers, posters, and new articles chronicling 20 years of gigs, along with hundreds of photos of him from his high school shenanigans onward. The photos show he’s usually smiling, surrounded by people, and almost always has a guitar in hand or nearby. From what I knew of him, which was through friends, music was his motivator. Being an alt-leaning GenY’er, Camden was heavy into So-Cal punk, a path which led to playing in bands, and eventually the blues. I’m not too sure when he took his new name, but it fit him better than the rumpled blazers he sported as part of

his bohemian style. Before and after his diagnosis, he recorded prolifically, for better or worse. He was fearless in putting his music out there. He wrote some fantastic punk songs with the hedonistic Speedway Detectives and some equally great blues songs with the Camden Blues Band and with Sunday wilde. His work ethic was remarkable and his willingness to do what he loved—loudly, in public— was impressive, but the fact that he was a good person with many close friends and hundreds of acquaintances is something I find most inspiring about him. One of my favourite memories of Camden Blues is completely random. I was biking home from work up Secord Street and just happened to see him sitting on a porch, guitar in hand. I don’t know why he was sitting there; it didn’t come up. This was after his diagnosis, after the Christmas Speedway Detectives reunion show where he played with a pressure bandage taped over the probing incision in his skull, but also before his trip to Memphis

The Walleye

OfftheWall

Cam Hopkins & the King Rat Cam Hopkins & the King Rat

Given the right amount of distorting fuzz, you can do anything. Local guitarist Cam Hopkins, along with Josh Therriault on bass, and Andrew and Aidan Domenis on guitar and drums respectively, have decided to use fuzz to breach the space/ time continuum. I’m not sure what danger was involved in this mission—possibly none—but they’ve beamed an album back to our time full of songs that sound like they’ve been played a thousand times since they were written in 1978. Never mind that the album is only two months old, the King Rat’s songs jam together with sonic shards they’ve picked up over the years. There are elements of downtuned indie and punk, spacey surf, danceable rock, and huge vocal hooks at some opportune moments, all with the fuzz layered thick enough to stand on. Hopkins has these awesome vocals that are pitched from a generation ago, and they match perfectly with his bandmates’ throwback sounds—see all eight minutes of “Toxic Waters” as proof. A fairly unique debut with a few kinks to work out, but welcome all the same—regardless of what time it’s been imported from. - Justin Allec

REVIEWS

U.S. Girls

Miss Anthropocene

Are You in Love?

Meghan Remy, who’s behind the Toronto-based experimental pop project U.S. Girls, says she was inspired by an upside-down world map when creating Heavy Light. Many songs on the album start off as the familiar but are quickly turned on their heads. The opener, “4 American Dollars,” is a disco/ funk/pop fusion but the lyrics are a sharp critique on capitalism. “State House (It’s a Man’s World)” starts with a drumbeat similar to The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” but a female choir belts: “It’s just a man’s world, we just breed here.” The album slows down for moments with audio collages and piano ballads like “IOU” and “Woodstock ‘99” but still, the lyrics are poignant. The album was recorded live in Montreal with 20 session musicians, and Remy worked with co-writers Basia Bulat and Rich Morel, balancing the orchestral percussion with her voice and backup singers. Because of the album’s political lyrics, it’s definitely not something you’d play in the background while cooking dinner—and if you did, you’d be missing out.

Over the last decade, Canadian artist Grimes has carved out a completely unique position in the world of pop music. Her ethereal sound inhabits an entirely different galaxy than her contemporaries. She littered the previous decade with jaw-dropping records, none more impressive than 2015’s Art Angels. Her five-year break between albums was privately marked with label conflicts that forced the lengthy delay. Miss Anthropocene offers a more sinister version of Grimes, but the sound is indistinguishably her. There’s dizzying synthwork, daring vocals, and bold ideas across this album. However, these songs don’t punch with the power of Art Angels, or resonate like the beauty of Visions. There isn’t a hook as memorable as “California,” there isn’t a song with free-flying energy like “Kill V. Maim.” Whether it’s an arrival at a place of comfort for an artist so used to pushing boundaries, or a rediscovery gone backwards, for the first time in her career, Grimes feels stagnant in the isolation of her own world.

After listening to Basia Bulat’s latest release, one word comes to mind, and that’s “witchy.” Yes, that is a compliment, especially when one considers the long lineage of witchy singer-songwriters, including Stevie Nicks and Kate Bush. Are You in Love? navigates forgiveness, loss, and losing oneself with the resilience, solidarity, and otherworldliness of a mystical storyteller. The ever-enchanting “Electric Roses” sees Bulat reflect upon a tendency to lie to herself, admitting that she had “been practicing this magic since [she] was a girl.” On the closer, “Love is at the End of the World,” Bulat transforms love into a mystical realm wherein one must be wary of falling. With flighty pianos, sublime strings, and, of course, the iconic autoharp peppering exceptional tracks like “Homesick,” “Hall of Mirrors,” and “No Control,” it’s safe to say that the soundscape of Are You in Love? is as equally ethereal as Bulat’s spellbinding lyricism.

Heavy Light

- Adrian Lysenko

OPEN FAMILY DAY Served Daily, Thursday’s Special!

Turkey Burger Ground turkey mixed with spinach, feta cheese and our secret seasoning. Optional side Greek salad.

Grimes

- Melanie Larson

- Michael Charlebois

SERVING GOODNESS ALL DAY! I

♥ Valentines Day

SAUNA

ALL DAY Breakfast • Daily Dinner After 3pm • Open 7 Days per Week until 8pm

80 The Walleye

Basia Bulat

379 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 2G1 807 344 6761 info@kangassauna.ca

American Standard

The Dirtbag Diaries

The Dishwasher

Our House Is on Fire

Whenever I listen to James Taylor it’s like sitting in front of warm fireplace on a cold winter night wrapped in a cosy wool blanket. I got that same feeling listening to his latest album, American Standard. The songs on the album were ones that Taylor’s parents listened to when he was growing up. Most of them come from musicals like Oklahoma and South Pacific. There’s a gentleness and warmth to the music here. The production is uncluttered. Taylor’s rich vocals and acoustic guitar carry most of the songs with some tasty horns and backup vocals adding some extra texture. Favourite songs include “My Blue Heaven”—Taylor gives it a swing and there’s a nice violin solo as well—and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” which has a bluesy shuffle and a great dobro solo. There is an innocence and a nostalgic glow to American Standard. It’s the perfect antidote to a stressful day.

Feeling a little down in the dumps? Well, get your butt outside and your ears perked up for a great outdoor adventure. The Dirtbag Diaries, produced by the Duct Tape Then Beer team, is an uplifting podcast filled with stories about lessons learned, friendships formed, and hearts healed while being surrounded by nature. For over 12 years now, Cahall, who is very clearly an outdoor writer and enthusiast, has been inspiring listeners to be active, embrace challenges, and get a little wild sometimes. I guarantee you’ll become so immersed in these stories that you’ll swear you’ll feel a mosquito bite, hear a waterfall in the distance, or catch a whiff of a campfire. With the healing powers of nature at the forefront, The Dirtbag Diaries will leave you inspired and ready to go in no time. So climb in, jump on, or lace up, and get out there!

The Dishwasher focuses on an unnamed narrator and his gambling addiction. Hounded by all the people he owes money to and dropping out of college, he takes a job as a dishwasher at a busy, high-end restaurant. While the intensity of the work helps him keep his mind off his troubles, it also introduces more sinister and dangerous elements into his life. The writing’s at its best when Larue brings out the frantic pace and pressures of the restaurant, but it’s marred by a reliance on tired clichés and weak analogies while being bogged down by both over-description and a stalling of plot at the service of foreshadowing something big that doesn’t materialize. The heart of the story contains an honest portrayal of addiction and how it can consume someone mind, body, and soul, and cause them to spiral out of control and alienate everyone they love. It just wasn’t enough to offset the negatives.

This children’s book is, like Greta Thunberg herself, straightforward and powerful. The author explains what motivated Greta to take action against climate change, and how her personal experience grew into a global movement. This would be a great book to read to young children, as the illustrations are bold and colourful, and Greta’s crusade is clearly explained. The climate crisis is not glossed over, but the main message is one of hope, which can only come from the actions of individuals. Greta’s dog Roxy, a black Lab, is included in the story, and the illustrator captures his faithful support. A two-page spread of children holding up protest signs will give Friday climate strikers some great ideas. This book is wellresearched, as evidenced by the list of sources and documented quotes found on the last page.

James Taylor

- Gerald Graham

Fitz Cahall

- Andrea Lysenko

Stéphane Larue

Jeanette Winter

- Joanna Aegard

- Alexander Kosoris

After more than 24 years at Our Kids Count, Gladys Berringer is stepping down from the post of Executive Director. On behalf of the Our Kids Count Planning Team, parents, guardians and children who participated in OKC programs and events, the funders and sponsors, the Board and the community at large, thank you, Gladys, for your energy, dedication, humour and commitment. See you at Ribfest 2020!!!!!

Phone: 807-623-0292 Fax: 807-623-1530 Email: info@ourkidscount.ca Left to Right - Planning Team Members Jennifer, Brittuhnee, Gladys, Shana, Bill & Anessa

www.ourkidscount.ca The Walleye

Architecture

Adrian Lysenko

Open-Mind Interiors By Laurie Abthorpe

82 The Walleye

Street West where an initial Westfort library branch was established in 1919. Architect H. M. Scott prepared plans for the 1938 library building at 151 Brock Street West, named after Fort William’s retired yet much loved librarian, Mary J. L. Black, in honour of her contributions and achievements. Built of brick, the 32.5 by 56 foot library building’s upper floor was dedicated

to library purposes while a heating plant, large assembly room, and offices were located in its lower level. The 1962 addition, designed by Ranta & Tett Architects, expanded the building to more than double its size. A modern Mary J. L. Black Library branch, more reflective of the community’s current needs, replaced this original branch in 2011. Looking to purchase a building

of its own, Open-Mind Interiors, who specialize in creating innovative workspaces, recognized the potential in the former library branch building. Partner Stacey Strey shares that their goal was to “find a building that ‘told a story.’ We wanted wide open space that we could make our own, something unique that had local significance.” Many original features were retained

Adrian Lysenko

hen an existing building’s intended use is no longer viable, and yet its built assets still are, an opportunity presents itself. Quite often, the materials and methods used in the construction of older buildings resulted in substantial structures built to last centuries. Adapting and reusing an old building harnesses its remaining lifespan and retains the building’s heritage, while fostering economic and environmental savings through the conservation of existing materials. A very recent successful example of adaptive reuse is the newly renovated space of OpenMind Interiors. Originally built as the Mary J. L. Black Library, this 1938 structure along with its 1962 addition served the Westfort community as its first dedicated public library building. As early as 1913, council approved $15,000 to fund the construction of a library building in Westfort; however, it was in leased storefront space at 147 Frederica

Adrian Lysenko Thunder Bay Public Library

▲The opening of the Mary J. L. Black Library's new addition in May 1962 ▼ The Reference Department of the Mary J.L. Black Library, circa 1962

Thunder Bay Public Library

▼ Mary J. L. Black

Thunder Bay Public Library

during the building’s transformation, such as the terrazzo floors and deco handrails, while additional natural light was brought into the space through new window openings added across the upper level façade of the 1962 addition. Strey also explains that “as a provider of environmentally conscious interior building products, we also wanted to showcase how our products could be moved from our previous location and reused in our new space. All of our glass demountable walls, carpet tile made from recycled fishing nets, and modular, flexible furniture solutions were picked up and moved from our old location to our new one. Why build new walls when you can just move the ones you already have?” Open-Mind Interiors will be a participating site in Doors Open Thunder Bay 2020 happening on September 12. Plan to drop by and see firsthand the amazing transformation that has taken place and, as many visitors already have, share stories about plays or puppet shows attended here as a child. You might even get the chance to see the old projector room. Laurie Abthorpe is the heritage researcher for the Heritage Advisory Committee, which advises City Council on the conservation of heritage buildings, sites, and resources, and their integration into development. For more information on the city’s heritage resources, visit thunderbay.ca/heritage.

Architecture

The Walleye

Health

A Pap test… Screens for abnormal cells on the cervix that may develop into a cancer Is a diagnostic cancer test Tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) Examines internal and external female organs Is recommended for anyone with a cervix between 21 and 69 years of age if they have ever been sexually active Ontario’s Cancer Screening Guidelines recommend that anyone with a cervix between 21 and 69 years of age, who has ever been sexually active, get screened for cervical cancer with a Pap test every three years. For more information about cancer screening, visit: www.tbrhsc.net/cancerscreening.

What is a Pap Test? By Dr. Naana Jumah, Obstetrician Gynaecologist, Regional Cervical Screening/Colposcopy Lead

s a Pap test looking for cancer? Is a Pap test looking for a sexually transmitted infection (STI)? Or is a Pap test checking if your reproductive organs are healthy? The answer is: none of these things. Some people may find this information surprising. There seems to be a lot of confusion about what a Pap test is and what it does and doesn’t test for. It’s important to know what a Pap test is looking for, and why your health care provider is recommending a Pap test so that you have more control over your health. A Pap (short for Papanicolaou)

84 The Walleye

test is a screening test for cervical dysplasia. Cervical dysplasia are changes on the cervix caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) that can turn into a cancer of the cervix. During the test, your health care provider will use a special swab to collect a small sample of cells from your cervix. These will be sent to a lab to look for changes to the cells. A normal Pap test means the cells on your cervix look healthy and there is little risk of developing a cancer of the cervix. An abnormal Pap test means that there are changes to the cells of your cervix that may increase your risk of developing a

cancer of the cervix. Cervical cancer is caused by an STI called HPV. A Pap test does not test you for HPV, or any other STI. A Pap test looks for the changes on the cervix caused by an HPV infection. An HPV test (which is paid for out-of-pocket) and other STI tests are done separately using separate swabs altogether. Your health care provider may offer you these tests at the same time as your Pap test. Due to the location of a Pap test, people often think that a Pap test is the same as a pelvic exam. However, a pelvic exam is a physical examination of the external and internal female reproductive organs—the vulva, vagina, cervix, and uterus. It might be done at the same appointment for some people, but it’s important that you know that if you had a Pap test it does not mean you’ve had a pelvic exam, and vice versa. Currently, Ontario’s cervical cancer screening guidelines recommend that anyone between the ages of 21 and 69 with a cervix who have

ever been sexually active complete a Pap test every three years. Cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable with regular screening and the HPV vaccination (which is approved for people up to 45 years of age). Next time you go to your health care provider for a Pap test, have a conversation about your sexual and reproductive health. These conversations can empower you to know more about your body and your health status. This April, Prevention and Screening Services at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is running their fifth annual Pap-APalooza event, inviting anyone with a cervix across our region to get screened for cervical cancer. More than 35 clinics across the region are formally participating, some are opening their doors to those without health care providers as well. Those who get screened during April will have a chance to win wireless portable speakers. For more information, visit tbrhsc.net/pap.

LU RADIO’S MONTHLY TOP April Show Spotlight

Zee’s Place Hosted by Crystal “Zee” Hardy Wednesdays from 2 – 4 pm Zongwe Binesikwe (Sounding Thunderbird Woman) aka Crystal “Zee” Hardy is an Anishinaabe-kwe in the Bear Clan from Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek (Rocky Bay First Nation) and calls Thunder Bay her home. Inspired by the impact of Gord Downie’s album, Secret Path, Zongwe Binesikwe created Zee’s Place to promote decolonization and reconciliation across Turtle Island and the world through music and storytelling. Zee shares her story and experience with the world through advocacy and leadership. Her life’s work is to create safe spaces for Indigenous people in health care through cultural humility, social justice, health equity, and advocacy. Welcome to Zee’s Place Wednesdays from 2–4 pm EST on CILU Radio 102.7FM.

Song of the moment: “I Am Light” India.Arie Songversation

Top 20 1

Jean-Paul De Roover Loss Self-Released

Andy Shauf* The Neon Skyline Arts & Crafts Destroyer* Have We Met Merge

Wolf Parade* Thin Mind Royal Mountain

Beauts* Dalliance LHM

Music

Tame Impala The Slow Rush Universal

U.S. Girls* Heavy Light Royal Mountain

Brandon Wolfe Scott* Burden On Your Shoulders Dine Alone

No Museums* Moths Self-Released

10 Family Video* Forever Changes Overnight Coax

14 Gil Scott-Heron & Makaya McCraven We’re New Again: A Reimagining by Makaya McCraven XL

Hip Hop 1

Atmosphere Whenever Rhymesayers

15 TR/ST* The Destroyer - 2 Grouch/House Arrest

Alaclair Ensemble* AMERICA vol. 2 7ième Ciel

16 Loving* If I Am Only My Thoughts Last Gang

17 Forever* Close to the Flame Cascine 18 of Montreal UR FUN Polyvinyl 19 Woolworm* Awe Mint 20 Penny Diving* Big Inhale Self-Released

Caribou* Suddenly Merge

12 King Krule Man Alive! True Panther

MOON APPLE* Myth Maker ~ Dream Destroyer Self-Released Test Card* Music For The Towers Sound in Silence O’Haara* Lore / Big High A Person Disguised As People nêhiyawak* nipiy Arts & Crafts

Local Talent* Higienopolis Self-Released

Loud

Denzel Curry x Kenny Beats Unlocked Loma Vista

Konvent Puritan Masochism Napalm

Cyborg* Evasion Self-Released

Anti-Flag 20/20 Vision Spinefarm

Mick Jenkins The Circus EP Cinematic Music Group

Deadlights* No Hope For The Lost Self-Released

Anvil* Legal At Last AFM

The Drowns Under Tension Pirates Press

International 1

Chelsea Stewart* Chelsea Stewart Self-Released

Zal Sissokho* Kora Flamenca Analekta

Mighty Mystics* Beat Down Babylon Self-Released

London Afrobeat Collective Humans Self-Released

Antibalas Fu Chronicles Daptone

Jazz 2

Electronic

11 Sam Weber* Everything Comes True Sonic Unyon

13 Bombay Bicycle Club Everything Else Has Gone Wrong Arts & Crafts

CILU 102.7fm’s Monthly Charts for this issue reflect airplay for the month ending March 24, 2020. Check out our weekly charts online at luradio.ca and tune in to the Top 20 Countdown, Mondays from 7 - 9 am. Keep it locked on 102.7fm - online streaming at luradio.ca

Redline Trio* Redline Trio Self-Released The Shuffle Demons* Crazy Time Stubby Jeff Parker Suite for Max Brown International Anthem / Nonesuch Gord & Olivier Clements Quintet* Passages Self-Released

Folk•Roots•Blues 1

William Prince* Reliever Six Shooter

Sean Burns & Lost Country* A Bakersfield Half-Dozen Stringbreakin’

Sarah Jane Scouten* Confessions Light Organ

Frantically Atlantic* Maggie In The Woods Self-Released

100 mile house* Love and Leave You Fallen Tree

* Indicates Canadian Content

Walleye The Walleye

85 5

TheWall

Making the Best of a Bad Situation Taking Dr. Brilliant’s Advice

Story and Photo by Darren McChristie

Staying active on the shores of Lake Superior

t’s Saturday night and normally I would be watching the Leafs lose in the third period together with my friends at the neighbourhood bar(n)—a horse barn converted to a neighbourhood pub. Instead, I’m isolated in my house with my family waiting for my father to deliver groceries and homemade soup to our doorstep. We have just returned from skiing in the Rockies and have self-quarantined for 14 days. Although we did cut our trip short (I’m not gonna lie, the skiing was epic), it was a selfish act in retrospect and now my parents are once again taking care of me as if I were a child. We are following the advice of experts, and taking every

86 The Walleye

precaution to prevent spreading the virus. We are assuming we are carriers of COVID-19. The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, is like a freight train. China, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan have demonstrated that only with extreme measures can the virus be contained. The magnitude of its impact is hard to fathom. Millions of Canadians are out of work. Non-essential businesses and schools are closed. Panic buying is the new low, with Canadians more concerned than ever about how they will wipe their ass. Public shaming is becoming a valuable tactic to reinforce the importance of social distancing. The economy is in

shambles and the world is headed for a recession, or worse, a depression. In the end, many will die. But there is still reason for hope and things for us to learn as we come out the other end of this pandemic. Just over a hundred years ago, in the spring of 1918, the world was fighting a similar battle. The Spanish Flu infected half a billion people worldwide and killed an estimated 55,000 Canadians, mostly between the ages of 20 and 40. Like COVID-19, it was spread throughout the world by travel, albeit by ships. Although there are similarities and differences, what stands out is that inadequate quarantine measures were a major factor in failing to control the outbreak. The disorganized approach to the crisis resulted in the creation of the federal Department of Health, which made public health the responsibility of various levels of government. Today, we are seeing a much more coordinated approach to a similar pandemic, and that’s a good thing—provided we heed the advice we are given. So what can we do in the midst of this global pandemic? We can learn from our past mistakes and follow the advice of health experts, and ignore rhetoric from the orange-faced buffoon south of the border. Mind your social distancing and take advantage of the extra time you have. Northerners are incredibly adept at being self-sufficient. Most of us choose to live with less during the summer months at camp, so we will collectively be okay. Take advantage of the fact that we live in an area of the world with plenty of wild, open spaces free of people and crowds. Get creative, and avoid the typical hikes to the Sleeping Giant (provincial parks are closed). Cherish the family time you have—it's a blessing in disguise. Social media has a role in keeping us connected, but it can also fill our brains with useless misinformation—use it as a tool, not a time-killer. And stay positive. Epidemiologist Dr. Larry Brilliant (how can he be wrong with a name like that?) advisor to the movie Contagion, suggested in the New York Times that the best-case scenario is that the virus mutates and peters out like SARS and MERS did. According to Dr. Brilliant, “Only

in movies do viruses seem to become worse.” I look forward to getting together with my friends at the local bar(n) to once again watch the Leafs battle to make the playoffs, although it may be in August. In the meantime, I will enjoy not having to go anywhere and take advantage of slowing down and enjoying the beauty of Northwestern Ontario. At the time of writing, The Walleye Magazine is temporarily suspending print publication and are planning a digital issue for May. We will continue to bring you the best of what Thunder Bay has to offer when Ontario comes out the other side of this pandemic. We encourage everyone to enjoy back issues, keep up to date on our website and social media feeds and, most importantly, support local businesses that have adapted to continue to provide delicious meals, supply gear to get outside, and offer other goods and services—you can’t get a haircut, but you can stay in fashion.

SUMMER CLASSES are HERE

Green

Spring Up to Clean Up

Addressing a Global Problem in Your Own Neighbourhood By Melissa Davidson, Program Coordinator, EcoSuperior Environmental Programs

n the current state of worldwide environmental crises, it is quite easy to become overwhelmed or discouraged. It can seem like there is simply nothing that can be done as an individual to help create change. With stories of the global plastic and litter problem swarming the news—from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, to microplastics entering the food web, to the hazards litter pose to wildlife—the problems can seem insurmountable. There is no doubt that actions must be taken on a grand scale to effectively “turn the tap off” on the flood of single-use plastics and other waste that is littering the natural environment. And we have already seen positive steps in this direction: last spring, the Canadian government announced that a ban on harmful single-use plastics could come as early as 2021, based on the abundance of scientific evidence confirming the large negative impacts. An article that was released by the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) in the fall of 2019 also highlighted the importance for companies that are large contributors of consumer waste to hold themselves responsible for the fate of their products. The WWF has developed a program called ReSource: Plastic where they partner with companies to help them reduce their overall plastics footprint. These types of positive changes are great news for the future, for the health of both people and the planet, on both a national and global scale. However, what can we do right now to reduce

Past Spring Up to Clean Up participants cleaning up a local waterway our plastic footprint, and prevent litter from entering the natural environment in our own community? There are many small changes you can make as an individual, every day, that can have a large collective impact. Many people in the community have already started to make these positive changes, and you can too! A simple place to start is carrying a reusable water bottle and travel mug with you. Other single-use alternatives include refusing plastic straws and bringing your own cutlery and takeout boxes, as well as using beeswax food wraps as an alternative to traditional plastic wrap. Purchasing in bulk can decrease waste, especially if you bring your own containers for bulk items (which more and more retail locations are supporting). Ask your favourite grocery stores or food artisans if you can simply bring reusable packaging, which may in turn inspire them to make changes at the source, if they aren’t already. If you are looking for reusable products to reduce your single-use plastic

footprint, come into EcoSuperior’s retail store at our office located at 562 Red River Road. Unfortunately, until widespread change occurs, there are still inevitably single-use plastics and other litter finding their way onto our sidewalks, roads, and trails. With the return of the warmer weather, the melting snow will soon reveal what has accumulated over the winter months. If you are interested in doing something about this important issue, join the 10,000+ annual participants to take part in this year’s Spring Up to Clean Up! This spring season marks the 24th annual City of Thunder Bay Spring Up to Clean Up campaign delivered by EcoSuperior Environmental Programs. This initiative supports individuals, schools, and businesses to take part in cleaning up their neighbourhoods. Participating in Spring Up to Clean Up will not only improve the appearance of your neighbourhood by removing unattractive litter, but will also prevent it from entering our natural

environment and waterways, ultimately reducing plastics and other harmful litter entering our great Lake Superior! The Spring Up to Clean Up campaign will run throughout the month of May, and clean-ups can be done throughout the spring season. Registration can be completed on our EcoSuperior website, starting April 1. Join the growing local movement and take actions this spring to make changes to reduce your own single-use waste footprint, and tackle litter in our community to keep our city clean, green, and beautiful—and therefore, be a part of the global solution.

The Walleye

Horoscopes By Sunny Disposish

Aries

Cancer

Libra

Capricorn

If you are feeling a little down about things, take some time to figure out why. Rams need to retreat sometimes, so schedule a little personal time this month. Ask yourself the hard questions! A workshop you stumble across might just be what the doctor ordered. Make a pact to learn something new this month. You’ll be back to your old self in no time.

Workwise, things are looking up. You had to say goodbye to somebody special, but luckily a new person will fill that void in short order. It wouldn’t hurt to bring some treats from home to share with your co-workers, Crab! You may find yourself on a last-minute road-trip this month. It is important to stay hydrated.

Take a little break from social media, Libra. Even someone as balanced as you can suffer from too much screen time. Take a moment to get back to nature over the Easter weekend. Spend some time with good friends, furry and otherwise. Buy a good book—or even better, grab one from the library so you can see that cute redhead again.

Do we teach people how to treat us, Goat? The New Moon on the 22nd has you at the point where you are no longer willing to be second fiddle. It’s time to make some firmer rules around the house. Make extravagant dinner plans—you deserve it! The pizza at Outlaws is delicious. You are being drawn to water, so it might be time to shine up that boat in your yard.

Leo

Scorpio

Celebrate Earth Day like the boss you are. You might consider getting some Easter chocolate to fill the empty bowl in your office. You will be lively and dynamic in your discussions with others this month. It’s a great feeling to finally be heard. A conversation with a female family member might be important. Start making your summer plans early, because time is flying by for you right now!

Did you pull a funny April Fool’s joke on someone? Be careful, because they are planning to get you back eventually! Do something fun that you haven’t done for awhile, like go to a movie or grab a pair of Mystery Socks from Moon Money Vintage. Spring has sprung, so it’s time to get that spring cleaning underway. You’ll feel that much better for it! Reward yourself with a little something cold and refreshing after.

Virgo

Sagittarius

Don’t put all your Easter eggs in one basket, Virgo. Family matters will always be there to irk you, but you know you wouldn’t have it any other way. A major announcement could happen at the dinner table, making the celebration even nicer. Children play a major role this month. Stay focused.

Your sunny self is ready for some retail therapy! With the arrival of spring, it’s time to spruce up the old wardrobe. Don’t listen to the office gossip—just do your own thing and don’t go down that dark path. Remember, loose lips sink ships! You’ll run into an old pal at the mall. Romance is in the air! If you have your eye on a certain someone, now is the time to make your feelings known.

Taurus Is your family driving you bonkers these days, Taurus? Some folks can get downright bullheaded about their Easter plans because it’s “always been this way.” Go rogue and do things your way. You might start a new tradition. Take the time to compliment a co-worker. A friend takes you for a birthday lunch.

Gemini Are you experiencing major life changes right now, Gemini? The stars are lining up in your favour over the next several weeks. The full moon on the 7th brings you some good news. Things have been a bit bumpy lately, but you’ll find that everything fits neatly into place come month’s end.

Aquarius Do you feel like you’ve been travelling a lot lately, Water-Bearer? Time to simmer down and get back to what’s really important. You mean a lot of things to a lot of people, and it just wouldn’t do if you were so tired you couldn’t spread all the joy like usual! Put your green thumb to good use this month.

Pisces This is a strong time for you because the sun is in your sign, while Mars makes you more aggressive when dealing with others. This means you will have no trouble defending your own best interests should the situation arise. An expected treat delights on Easter weekend. It’s all good!

Everything included and many more great features!

Whiskey Jack Estates (Foothill Drive off Mountain Road)

BECKY FORESTER

BROKER

88 The Walleye

• Large Estate-Sized Lots • Mountain Views • Lots of Privacy

Starting from

$139,900

• Backing onto FWCC • Financing Options Available • Packages Available

1 Palette Island and Kent Island Lake Superior

$1,200,000

• 2 Islands for the Price of One • Access by a Short Boat Ride from Amethyst Harbour Dock, Float Plane or Helicopter • Fully Serviced for Year-Round Living • Complete Privacy & 5 Acres • Breathtaking View of the Sleeping Giant • Large Deck with Dock, Hot Tub, Guest Cottage and Garage

contact becky today: cell 807.626.3011 \\ BeckyForester.com

TheBeat

Steps I Can Do To Reduce CO2 By Bill Day What can I do to reduce CO2?* You can change your lights to LEDs* You can plant a garden; grow some trees You can reuse, reduce, and recycle You can walk, take a bus, or bicycle You can switch from gas to an EV* You can stop watching the old TV You can hang the laundry and let it dry You can eat more veggies and vegan stir fry You can buy more local food and stuff You can start to see itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not that tough You can promote alternative electric flow Like geothermal, solar, wind, and hydro You can make better choices and still remain As part of the ecosystem without being a drain *carbon dioxide *electric vehicle *light emitting diodes

Takinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; a Ride, digital illustration, boy Roland

The Walleye

TheEye

#socialdistancingtbay

n March, we put a call out to our followers on social media to share photos of their experiences with social distancing. The responses were inspiringâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a lot of TBayers are heading outdoors to spend time with their immediate family (including their dogs and llamas) while others are connecting via platforms, such as Skype and FaceTime. These photos remind us that we are fortunate to be surrounded by vast tracts of wilderness where we can find our own path without having to think about staying two metres away from others. Oh, and we like our sweets! Thanks to everyone who shared their pics and letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continue using the hashtag to make the most of our virtual community!

an a Rom by Dian y a b t g istancin #sociald

Social distancing at Mink Mountain (a dog is a nurse's best isolation pal) by Kaley Abernethy

andowan cing at Sheb Social distan er st by Jordan Le

90 The Walleye

My idea of #socialdistancingtbay - these two little lambs are soooo sweet by @sh.peters

When y ou with, so 've got a llam a cial dist ancing is bestie to hand KaeDee Stein n't so b ad by

made my day... @donutrun definitely y right now by pp ha le litt we all need a @tarynstastingtable

Snowcial distan cing by

Evie Sitch

y by with Popp Kama Cliffs in ith @theseaw

A nice d a Erica Sh y for a ski doo ride by ebobma n

T B AY ON

WHERE THE CLIMB IS WORTH THE GIANT REWARDS

HERE IS WHERE I FOUND MYSELF visitthunderbay.com

1964

21,690

$ † Plus taxes, freight & license fees. See Dealer for Details.

LX 6 Speed Manual Transmission

†

A young family man started a small business in Westfort back in ’64. It has since become a cornerstone of Thunder Bay businesses. Over the years the family developed and expanded the business and soon became one of the first companies to introduce Honda vehicles to the Canadian market. It’s the little business that grew, and the family that grew with it.

Experience the Gore Go Motors Difference Today! CHAT